articleaddict.com has a wide variety of articles for you to read.
Search:

Home | Family | Education


How Do Glowsticks Work?

By: Glowstick Junkie

Would you like to know ***** DO NOT PLACE LIVE URL LINKS IN THE ARTICLE BODY***** href="http://glowsticksonline.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-glowsticks-work.html">what makes glowsticks work? Neat little devices they are and while they may seem to be magical, once you discover how they are designed, you'll understand that there is not much too them other than a little ingenuity and some science.

First, to learn about glowsticks in order to understand what they are is to learn how they are manufactured. Glowsticks come in all lengths, but generally, they are around six to eight inches long. The outside of a glowstick is a translucent plastic tube that is completely sealed. Inside this tube is a smaller glass tube, also completely sealed. Both of these tubes define what I like to call the actual physical part of the glowstick.

Next up is the chemical portion of the glowstick. Within the plastic is something called cyalume, also known as phenyl oxalate ester. In addtion to the cyalume is mixed a colored dye. The colored dye is what makes a glowstick glow with color. The glass tube in the middle contains hydrogen peroxide.

What's the reason behind keeping these chemicals seperate from each other inside the glowstick? To keep them from reacting right away.

Glowsticks do not require electricity, batteries, or a light bulb to work. Glowsticks get their light from a chemical reaction between the cyalume and the hydrogren peroxide. But because the light only lasts a little while then it is only logical that the two chemicals cannot be pre-mixed at the manufacturing plant but instead must be able to be mixed by the purchaser.

This is how both tubes come in. The outter tube is flexibe and so it can be bent. However, the glass tube within the plastic tube is inflexible and does not bend. When the plastic tube bends so far it it reaches the glass tube. A touch more pressure on the plastic tube and the glass tube inside shatters. This lets loose the hydrogen peroxide into the cyalume and dye solution causing a sudden chemical reaction to ensue thereby producing light and allowing the glowstick to glow.

As you can see, the stick now shines with whatever colored dye the designer used for that specific glowstick.

To recap, a glowstick is a plastic stick. With in this plastic stick is a chemical recipe of cyalume and dye. Inside this mixture is a glass tube that contains hydrogen peroxide. To begin the chemical reaction, you need to bend the glowstick itself to break the glass tube and release the hydrogen peroxide. This chemical reaction is what makes glowsticks glow.

Article Source: http://articleaddict.com

For more information, see this related post on how glowsticks work or please visit the main site at Glowsticks Online where you can browse other posts or contact the writer with any questions or comments.

Please Rate this Article

 

Not yet Rated

Click the XML Icon Above to Receive Education Articles Via RSS!
Additional Articles From - Home | Family | Education
Sign Up for a free account or learn more.
Submit Articles
Member Login
Top Authors
Most Popular Articles
Submission Guidelines
Article RSS Feeds
New Stuff
About Us
Free Link Directory
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Sitemap
rent this Ad space monthly.

Powered by Article Dashboard