Oh, those Jedi with their lightsabers, excited the minds of millions, did not bypass us. In the cinema, everything looked more than spectacular, and about 10 years ago, multi-colored glow sticks brought from a Chinese flea market and only very vaguely resembling the weapon of the mentioned knights made a splash. Practical people, such as fishermen and explorers, immediately appreciated such lamps not only as a means of creating a suitable entourage, but also as an alternative source of light. The chemical method of obtaining visible radiation is characterized by very low heat transfer. In addition, it can be used in conditions where other lamps cannot work. The inquisitive minds of experimenters immediately wondered how difficult it was to make such a chemical light source with their own hands.
Varieties of CHIS
HIS - a factory-made chemical light source can be found not only in toy and decoration stores. Larger and, of course, stronger models are found in the special equipment of rescuers, divers, cavers and other professionals associated with unusual working conditions. The ingredients involved in the reaction are rather difficult to obtain.layman, and some cost a serious amount. Some reagents may be unsafe, and this would be avoided in artisanal production. In general, several methods have been experimentally identified, including unsuccessful ones.
Lemonade failure
It's unfortunate that the famous Mountain Dew trick doesn't work. To be completely precise, it does not work with the ingredients used in the known experiment, because a lamp in a plastic bottle based on this drink is quite feasible. More on that later.
The simplest acetone lamp
Catalytic oxidation of acetone can be regarded as a light source, the chemical principle of which is no different from conventional combustion. The only difference is the absence of an open flame. In short, a small amount of acetone is poured into a transparent container. It is only important to create a place for the formation and accumulation of fuel vapors and mixing them with oxygen in the air. The copper wire is coiled with a spring or in some other way so that the turns are closer together to create a larger reaction area in a smaller volume. This end of the wire is heated to redness and lowered into a container with acetone vapor, and on the copper surface, acetone reacts with oxygen, releasing additional heat. The resulting energy maintains the reaction temperature and additionally heats the metal to a glowing state. Such a lamp highlights a lotheat, and light is obtained due to the heating of copper, but there is an unusual and chemical component, so we could not ignore it.
Chemical light by oxidizing luminol
The search for the right ingredients and a working recipe finally led to a satisfactory result. Luminol is used in forensic medicine to detect blood residues: the iron ions in the plasma act as a catalyst and the luminol is oxidized to emit light radiation. It will not be difficult to find this substance, the Galavit preparation contains the sodium s alt of luminol in sufficient quantities for several experiments with the manufacture of substances used as a light source. The chemical aspect of the whole action implies that the containers for the lamp will not be used in everyday life in order to exclude poisoning or skin damage by aggressive substances. Be careful when conducting experiments, use protective gloves, goggles and a respirator if necessary.
Production of chemical light sources (CIS) in aqueous solutions
So, we have decided on the main reagent, we need to think about the ideal reaction conditions. A solvent is required as a liquid medium. Ordinary tap water can play its role, but luminol is practically insoluble in it. In order for the reaction to proceed evenly, Galavit will have to be finely ground and a suspension prepared, and a catalyst with a large release of iron or copper ions insolution. Copper sulfate, or blue vitriol as it is called, will be an excellent reaction enhancer in water. To create an alkaline environment, you will need ammonia, and preferably sodium or potassium hydroxide. Hydrogen peroxide will serve as an oxidizing agent, the proportions are as follows:
- 100 ml of water mixed with 2-3 crushed tablets "Galavita";
- add 50 ml hydrogen peroxide;
- 3-5g copper sulfate or red blood s alt;
- 30 ml ammonia or 15 ml KOH or NaOH solution.
Glow will appear almost immediately after mixing and will last for several hours. To continue the action, add grated Galavit and hydrogen peroxide to the solution and shake slightly.
Experiments with Dimexide
Experiments with water give a weaker result than expected, due to the poor solubility of luminol, it is worth looking for a better medium. Dimethyl sulfoxide does an excellent job of dissolving reagents; you can buy it at pharmacies called Dimexide. Be careful when working with this preparation, because its penetrating power makes the skin permeable to various dirt, which under normal conditions is successfully contained by our natural protective shell. The reaction catalyst will have to be removed, because with vitriol and blood s alt the reaction proceeds too rapidly and for a short time. The following proportions were empirically calculated:
- about 20 g dry KOH or NaOH(you should completely abandon the water for the purity of the experiment);
- 100 ml "Dimexide", there is no need to completely dissolve the hydroxide, the reaction will begin on the surface of its sediment;
- 1 Galavita tablet, powdered to dissolve faster.
By the way, such a solution can be prepared in advance and filled with luminol if necessary, the main thing is to make sure that the container is reliable and tight. It should be warned that a caustic mixture of alkali and "Dimexide" corrodes plastic bottles in 3-4 days, so it is only advisable to use such containers for a one-time and short-term use for preparing chemical light sources.
Other options
There are many recipes for creating such liquids as a chemical light source, there are options for using washing liquid as a medium and even human blood as a catalyst, but most of them are just variants of the recipes we have considered. You yourself can choose your own reagents and their ratios for the experiment, including with Mountain Dew soda.
