Make Glow Sticks - The Science

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We show how to make glow sticks and go through all the chemicals needed as well as how to make different colors. We also talk about the chemistry and scientifically research a proposed mechanism.
To make the glow stick mix together the following:
10mL Diethyl Phthalate (solvent)
3mg of fluorescent dye (see below)
50mg TCPO (see below)
100mg sodium acetate
3mL 30% hydrogen peroxide (add last to start reaction)
The fluorescent dye can be 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene for green, Rubrene for yellow, 9,10-diphenylanthracene for blue, and rhodamine B for red.
TCPO is expensive to buy but can be made for much cheaper by following the directions in our previous video: • How to make TCPO (for ...
The chemicals, including the ones to make TCPO were purchased from alfa aesar: www.alfa.com
The Rhodamine B and Rubrene dyes were instead purchased from sigma Aldrich: www.sigmaaldrich.com/
The dyes and TCPO are carcinogenic and gloves should be worn when handling them.
The TCPO and sodium acetate amounts can be varied considerably and still obtain good light. Smaller quantities tend to be dimmer and decay faster, while larger quantities last longer.
For those of you higher level individuals that actually do want to know the mechanism for this process, please refer to this article: pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/j...

[@GabrielTobing]

"Let me give it a shake. There we go, NOICEEEEE!!!" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AceTheDragon3]

When you pronounced the chemical names... I felt my brain cells pop.

[@lethallines5898]

Hahahah me to xD

[@SilkySnow_]

AceTheDragon3 Because hes pronouncing them wrong, or because they are hard to pronounce?

[@AceTheDragon3]

RaiShizaki It's how he pronounced them without error, as if it were a simple word. I could never be able to do that.

[@CarraTheKirrer]

AceTheDragon3 its easier if youve worked with organic chemistry

[@humangirl1341]

+AceTheDragon3 right

[@the_really_tired_one]

*Makes Black* *Blows up the universe*

[@the_really_tired_one]

Wow, did get a few likes!

[@elephystry]

I wonder if it is possible to use a mercury salt as a dye replacement.

[@somethingwithjoey1964]

Great work on explaining, and you keep me interested by your commentary! Great work!

[@Blaopz]

This is a really great and fun experiment to do with AP Chem! I repeated this experiment at school and really enjoyed it. Thank you for the inspiration!

[@Billie4Mozzarella]

On another note, watching this is so relaxing. I don't know the chemical or psychological explanation but just looking at the glowing colors relaxed me pretty much immediately (I was feeling pretty keyed up and tense).

[@abdullahijonga6121]

how can I get the chemical

[@jacobwcrosby]

I suspect it's from fire. Fire is relaxing, it brings about comfort, and I suspect that your caveman brain saw fire and felt comforted on some lizard-brain level... 😁

[@thepixelizedblur4569]

Ahh! Thanks for suggesting me this! I can't wait to present this in chemistry next week. Thanks for the help NurdRage!

[@Spritini_]

I just started watching NurdRage today and i already love him!

[@rttr5777]

"our primary objective is to explore science,so lets begin!" THE QUOTE OF THE YEAR

[@PNFjoker]

1:46 - I remember that voice saying those exact words last night in the neighborhood as a little girl screamed

[@sean2606]

why y

[@Convolutedtear]

That was great, I loved all the information : D The visuals and thoroughness was awesome as well. thanks PLURR

[@kurukuru4120]

This is very helpful and understandable for a complicated reaction and I like how you say long chemical name then before ending the video you just say "and that is the basic of glowstick"

[@pvc988]

You say thay DNPO and CPPO will both work. But I only have C3PO. Will it work?

[@GravelLeft]

* From far away * I get it! xD (I've though about the same thing.. we're probably not the only ones xD)

[@ondreyvalentine4410]

I'm dead, ur so funny 😵 (CPPO sounds like C3PO)

[@Creil625]

Lol pvp388

[@RWBHere]

Only in the presence of R2D2.

[@mr.joshua204]

No, c3po will just bitch at you with a British accent

[@dollspetscraftsohmy]

All I have is hydrogen peroxide

[@CoppertopHeros]

THANK YOU! This totally helps on a science article I'm writing for my science class!

[@HorsesRain1]

This was really cool to watch and learn about! Thank you so much for posting this video! :)

[@jessicadragonrider3838]

holy phloop thats epic!

[@dw4729]

the holly phloop from fuller house right 0_0 0-0

[@chrisace204]

the kid that microwaved and exploded a glowstick in his face brought me here. wtf

[@svgraphics1012]

Wow! You also made my face glow with awe! Crazy smart Chemists!

[@Dani1littlewgirl]

amazing! Gonna start my 3rd year of my phD in chem in 1 week. I already have my Inorganic Chem. classes done but I SO have to sneak on the lab to do these!!

[@mastervule1844]

My dream job would be worker in glowstick factory XD Imagine watching huge amounts of glowing liquid flowing *-*

[@katdraco9999]

rainbow factory

[@mastervule1844]

i.imgur.com/HUCXm.gif

[@synapse349]

yeah, but the glowing doesn't start until the end consumer breaks the glass tube and mixes the chemicals. The liquid doesn't glow in the factory. Also, it's pretty boring and mostly automated, not like there's a gajillion workers stirring giant vats of liquid light, more like a dude in a lab coat and hard hat operating a control panel and another dude driving a forklift with empty plastic tubes to make glow sticks out of...

[@mastervule1844]

synapse349 Dreamcrusher >_> JK of course :P I never thought about that. LOL Makes sense. But still it's not so bad job :P

[@MsMintyMisfit]

My dream job is to work in a bubble wrap factory, imagine the self-control needed.

[@THTerra]

That Orange looks like some molten metal c:

[@godalmighty5331]

Experimentation in line with Logic of Physics , good man . Thanks for the show.

[@virginiaomalley]

Great job explaining to us the exact science and chemicals to make a glow stick.

[@Aarontti]

C3PO?

[@keitra666]

ikr XD

[@dw4729]

@@keitra666 lol 🙃

[@patchesdf]

Can I order these chemicals over the internet without the FBI kicking down my door?

[@pinksapphire2898]

canada-where like every youtube chemist seems to live/yes you can United states-we freak the fuck out about everything so no

[@calla8060]

thank god i live in canada lol

[@deviledegg9468]

*BANG* *BANG* *BANG* FBI OPEN UP!!!

[@OriginalPuro]

@@calla8060 Thank your parents instead, they actually had a hand in where you were born.

[@hollenjf]

Yes

[@teddyl7006]

Thank you. I'm forever curious and this really helped.

[@lumen5699]

brother..do you know this is magical for me..I find the theorys for many year.thanks a lot..

[@kimberlyyeokahyii]

i feel so dumb. HAHAH. but its nice to watch

[@DrogeNVictiM]

***** Science, bitches! No reason for you to be here.

[@eugene8148]

Apple Broker yeah, science bitch!

[@kimberlyyeokahyii]

._. Cause you're sooooo smart.

[@DrogeNVictiM]

Kimberly Yeo yes i am, thats why i understand it :-)

[@kimberlyyeokahyii]

lol, well i do a little, bet you dont understand all of it so yea xD but if you do, continue being haughty and arrogant for your apparent smartness

[@HikariSakai]

Why do you have to Mask your voice? Are you wanted by the NSA?

[@bugs181]

No, because he masked his voice.. Duhh!

[@HikariSakai]

bugs181 lol but why? whats the point hahah

[@bugs181]

Expense of hard to come by chemicals - depending on your area of course.

[@mommydonteatmeplz]

Ha lol

[@HikariSakai]

mommydont eatmeplz gotta thumbs up your comment just because of your name haha

[@bobwerner6512]

As always has been very informative

[@tombloom99]

It would be interesting to see the dyes exposed to various laser light colors during the mixing. Wonderful science videos, thank you!

[@JustAnotherSunny]

Yellow+Blue=White Mind blown lol

[@dw4729]

yes exactly

[@haboob308]

1:19 I mean what kind of dork doesn't have sodium acetate on hand? Am I right guys?

[@jalenhorton3939]

no

[@ScienceWithJames]

*nurd

[@ericmueller6836]

Justshooting If you've made a kitchen volcano you have it on hand, and all over the counter top.

[@aricparks949]

this is an awesome science project

[@briandamorales5838]

THAT LOOKS AWSOME

[@jeff5882174]

Where do u get these chemicals from

[@jeff5882174]

What really?

[@james225g]

Amazon

[@bahapalan]

Teach me how to make a drugs

[@susantyler-freer6578]

Thank you! This was exactly what I wanted to know. Fabulous.

[@chriscory2049]

This is the coolest ever! Thanks for posting!

[@user-zm9wx1wj2z]

нехира непонял но классно!

[@dw4729]

I LOVE UR PROFILE PICK

[@TheSlipperysally]

are you using a device to alter your voice?

[@KAPNDDK]

great video, easy to follow, really cool!

[@mattcsencsics7805]

as always a beautiful video and very well defined thank YOU :D

[@teosaksida6543]

that deeep voice

[@AnupumPant]

It seems to me that the pitch of the voice has been altered during post processing of the video. May be the guy wants to remain anonymous and spread his message....I could be wrong though.

[@teosaksida6543]

if if listen to it again it seems like it

[@dkr1999]

These words...are to big for my mind.

[@alaska3333]

Very interesting, you sure now what you are talking about. Good job!

[@theartofsciencevideo]

Thanks for that, Some good stuff to share with senior students

[@shurikendongle656]

Is it just me or is his voice a bit robotic.

[@gnetumgnemon]

Not only you

[@shurikendongle656]

gnetumgnemon Thank god. I thought I was going crazy there.

[@aleksandarvideski8814]

Shuriken dongle actually I think he's using a voice changer or even a voice off the net

[@shurikendongle656]

Aleksandar Orelov Cool.

[@chandrasubramani1599]

kali

[@user-ku6ub8pk5x]

Непонятно....Только и успевал читать. :-(

[@matrixvikram]

with millions videos out there, i would rate this as one of the most clear and scientific ever....names could be loopy for non-initiaed though :)

[@mikekyriakidis]

this staff are awesome

[@williamlemus1252]

WTF is he saying im only 12

[@noahhughes3364]

I understand i am 12. Are you dumb?

[@williamlemus1252]

I don't pay attention in language arts

[@DJzUN3NOWN]

well language arts is a class you take in jr high and youre 12 in jr high

[@lmCIoudz]

DJzUN3NOWN I was 12 in 7th grade and had Language Arts..

[@mattgar1000]

DJzUN3NOWN um was in fifth grade barely even 5 months ago and i took language arts

[@OscarSanchez-yr8rl]

Nice still a banger in 2023 loved seeing you in high school back in 2012. Now that I've graduated college with a bachelor's in chemistry I'm going back to all the videos lol

[@Garfunkels_Funky_Uncle]

can't wait to see the video of YOU making it.

[@sameenakausar1020]

Awesome video ! Thanks !

[@B3bita1215]

Awesome video!! :) Thanks for sharing!!

[@jalrama2709]

That is so much cool. I loved it that when blue glows

[@yingzhenang7678]

Wow your videos r awesome!simple but clear👍

[@sarahcampisi]

That was fantastic! Thank you. So interesting 🙂

[@kynigh]

Wow I have just discovered this channel and it rocks! I love chemistry. Is this guy a chemist or what?

[@RIXRADvidz]

glow sticks have been a favorite toy since the 1970's...thanks for sharing the science.

[@6417893265q784256128]

Nice video very informative , subscribed !!!

[@Amazethebum]

Great experiment

[@LeftCatcher]

i'm glad your back :D

[@Jmresciniti]

Your videos are amazing. Hope you make more :)

[@synapse349]

thank you, very educational

[@tanmaykondalkar3175]

Gr8 video sir.........just what I was searching for

[@benfilmreviews4461]

This is awesome good job

[@qiyun1]

Great science project.

[@tghost7721]

Awesome video!!

[@violetnred]

so creating glowsticks i a bit more expensive than i thought... huge thanks for the explanation of the process!!

[@JorgenVRC]

That was EPIC!!!

[@slevinshafel9395]

Nice experiment

[@universalpisces8253]

Glow sticks...101...great mini class session. I learn something.

[@maycouchpotato]

i love you right now. thank you for a very entertaining and informative video! bless you! XD

[@heyimgnarlyy]

Great video man

[@RainbowLisk]

Great channel and great videos.

[@jorgemarr]

Awsome video thanks!

[@akyogini108]

The light mixing is physics. If you have a bunch of different colored lights (different colord tissue paper over flash lights) and then shine them all together on one point, the light well be white (Did this with my 2,4,5 year old called it reverse rainbow). Will be making luminol in O chem tomorrow, good to know glow sticks are something of a different nature. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@bradleynorwood3206]

i cant wait to try!!!!!!

[@yeoinbird]

very cool!!! i love science, and i love things that glow! so this video was great!!! such pretty colors :D

[@Jiross]

This was amazing!!!!!

[@nathanexplosion743]

nice video very informative!

[@tommeagher235]

I can't wait to make these. Thank God I have all of this stuff lying around!

[@rajneeshsharma9941]

Ohh nice! It worked? Actually I was planning to make it for my schl science project but I am not sure whether it will work or not. If you've tried it then pls do lemme know a bit about your observations.

[@EasyQuickTips]

this was awesome.

[@sommerwinter9123]

Wow so cool the red one looks at the start like the galaxy

[@pinkcutekawaii1754]

Awesome glow in the dark sticks

[@MattRiddell]

Great video

[@maryjeanjason6231]

you sound like my chemistry teacher when I was on highschool.... smart and cool :)

[@doofusthegreat]

Cool! Thanks.

[@tomieboi86]

Great video, if I could get my hands on those chemicals I would love to show my 4yr daughter.

[@gretchenagbayzen1987]

way so cool... I've learn a lot of information from you... and I love it... :D more videos brother...

[@jbanks4life]

Very instructional, never believed anything concerning mountain dew

[@felipeveloso9050]

Nice video!

[@alexandre666a]

i just hope you will make a new youth currious into science ! my deepest regards!!

[@sedimenter]

nice video. thanks.

[@untermench3502]

Luciferin was initially extracted from Lightning Bugs by a scientist at American Cyanamid Corporation in Stamford CT. He was the father of one of the fellow members in my Boy Scout Troop.His father would pay us five cents for every Lightning Bug. It was quite a bit for a boy in the early 60's

[@Todd66]

good video. voice is good. Thank you!

[@CastIronGinger]

you are really smart, sir!