How to Make a Glowstick

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Those glowing Mountain Dew videos with peroxide and baking soda are all hoaxes. To truly make a glowstick without breaking an already-made glowstick and shoving its contents into a tube (also known as cheating), you need to let your inner scientist out (along with a few dollars). If you're still curious, read on.This is fun for anyone and everyone.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Using TCPO (Multiple Colors)

PDF download Download Article
  1. Some of the chemicals are carcinogenic and incredibly dangerous when used improperly. It should also be noted that these are expensive and often difficult to obtain chemicals, best bought in bulk. They are not conducive to only making one or two glow sticks. At the very least, you should have:
    • Latex gloves
    • Ventilated goggles (lab goggles)
    • Long sleeves
    • Face mask
    • A clean, tidy work station
    • Clean glass tubes or containers with matching lids.
  2. This is your base and makes up the majority of the liquid in your glow sticks. It will hold the chemicals that actually glow and amplify them. Start with 10mL of DP, but know that you can double or half this for bigger or smaller sticks. This looks like water, but the chemical reaction necessary for glowing won't work in water
    • You may have to dig around a bit online to find these chemicals. Chemistry giants Alfa Aesar [1] and Sigma Aldrich [2] are two great resources.
    • If you double the solvent, then you should double the rest of the ingredients below.
    Advertisement
  3. You cannot use normal or additive dyes; make sure you're using fluorescent dyes. These dyes will not be the same color un-mixed as they are when they glow, so trust the guide given below to make your colors. There are a variety of different dyes you can use, depending on the color you want:
    • 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene for green
    • Rubrene for yellow
    • 9,10-diphenylanthracene for blue
    • Rhodamine B for red ( note: rhodamine decays quickly, meaning reds tend to fade fast).
    • Mix half yellow, half blue to create white.
  4. TCPO stands for bis (2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate, which you may need to know to purchase it. It's quite expensive to buy, but you can make it fairly cheaply if , again, you're experienced and competent around chemicals. Otherwise, making it is not advised. [3]
    • The TCPO is used instead of luminol in this method -- it's the component that makes the mixture glow and it lasts for hours.
    • TCPO is incredibly carcinogenic, and should be handled with care. Never inhale TCPO.
  5. If you don't have sodium acetate, an even mixture of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium salicylic can effectively be used instead. When added, put the lid on and shake the bottle well.
  6. It's important to do this step last, as it creates the chemical reaction. Put the lid back on, shake it up well, and turn off the lights. You should have a quite impressive stick/tube/container glowing ferociously in front of you.
    • The hydrogen peroxide is an activator, not part of the reaction, so you won't need much.
    • When you buy glow sticks, the "crack" noise to activate them is breaking a little glass vial of hydrogen peroxide.
  7. If you so desire, mess around with the recipe to see what warrants the best results. This reaction works because TCPO and Sodium Acetate release energy when combined, as they start to decay. This energy is picked up by the florescent dyes, which can convert energy into light. More of each leads to more energy and a longer reaction.
    8. Advertisement


Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Using Luminol

PDF download Download Article
  1. In addition, wear gloves to protect your skin. It's also a good idea to not wear your Sunday best. Throw on some old clothes or put a smock over clothes you want protected. Some of this stuff is dangerous -- this experiment is not meant for children!
    • Listen up, kids: You'll be working with a solution that's near a 12 on the pH scale. That basically means don't swallow it, don't put it in your eyes, don't bathe in it, and don't really expose yourself to it directly at all. Got it? Moving on.
  2. A ceramic bowl will work best, but plastic works too. Use funnels, measuring tubes, and basters to keep everything well-measured and well away from you. [4]
    • Hydrogen peroxide is used to replace the luminol's nitrogen atoms with oxygen. When that happens, all the substances create a rave and start partying and electrons fly everywhere and what results? The glow.
  3. Mix .2 grams of luminol, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 24 grams of sodium bicarbonate, .4 grams (0.01 oz) of copper sulfate, .5 grams (0.02 oz) of ammonium carbonate and 1 liter (0.3 US gal) of distilled water in a second bowl. [5] It is important not to touch the luminol. Use a funnel to make everything safe and easy. Unfortunately, these hazardous chemicals will not float freely in mid-air like this graphic suggests.
    • Yep, unless you're a coroner or some sort of crazy spy/criminologist you probably don't have this stuff lying around the house (hopefully not...). If you're dead set on starting your own glowstick business (worse ideas exist), try websites like Alfa Aesar [1] or Sigma Aldrich [2] for supplies.
    • Mix everything well. Don't use your hands -- use a metal or plastic utensil of some sort.
  4. It's important to use sanitary, clean tubes for your glowsticks. The last thing you want is other substances interacting with the reactions you're depending on to make the substances glow.
  5. This enables you to seal the containers quickly after filling. It's not like the glow will get up and run away from you, but still.
  6. Shake them up once the lids are on tightly. Then turn off the lights!
    • If it's not already glowing, something went wrong. Do over!
  7. Take your glowsticks to the party and charge your friends loads of money for them! But act quickly...the glow won't last very long. Expectations crushed? Method one to the rescue!
    • The reaction that the luminol and hydrogen peroxide creates doesn't last long at all -- maybe a couple of minutes. For something that lasts hours, go to the next method (which is a lot easier to facilitate if you have access to a laboratory, but it's still worth mentioning).
    8. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Is it dangerous for kids?
    FALLON MARTIN
    Community Answer
    It can be if you're not careful. Make sure you have the supervision and help of an adult.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 17 Helpful 46
  • Question
    Is there another way to make it without using those chemicals?
    Community Answer
    You can use the ink from fluorescent highlighter pens as well. Check out Method 2 in this article.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 32
  • Question
    How do you make glow in the dark paint?
    Community Answer
    Choose a glow in the dark powder or phosphorescent powder, and stir a small amount into your choice of paint (white would work the best). For more information, check out How to Make Glow in the Dark Paint .
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 12
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Luminol is the chemical that makes blood glow. It can be found at a scientific store, on the Internet or in a kid's spy kit.
        Thanks
        Helpful 49 Not Helpful 20
      • Sodium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, and copper sulfate pentahydrate are white powders. They can be found at science stores.
        Thanks
        Helpful 42 Not Helpful 17
      • It's much easier and cheaper to buy glowsticks unless you're buying these products in bulk.
        Thanks
        Helpful 46 Not Helpful 24
      Show More Tips

      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Too get a little more light out of a dying glow stick, turn your faucet on hot (but not too hot) and put the glow stick under it. Just be careful not to use water that's hot enough to melt the glow stick.
      • If kids are making these, they need adult supervision.
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Children should be supervised when using glowsticks. It may be tempting for them to break the stick apart and play with or ingest the contents, which can cause serious injury.
        Thanks
        Helpful 81 Not Helpful 27
      • Always wear protective glasses when working with chemical substances.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • These are very serious methods of create glowsticks. Nothing simpler is described because it does not exist. Leave the glowing to the pros if you're only looking to mess around -- this stuff is dangerous.
        Thanks
        Helpful 67 Not Helpful 39
      • Wear gloves. Do not touch luminol or consume it. [6]
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • Copper sulfate is toxic. Again: be careful .
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      Things You'll Need

      Using TCPO

      • 10mL Diethyl Phthalate
      • 3mg of fluorescent dye
      • 50mg TCPO
      • 100mg sodium acetate
      • 3mL 3% hydrogen peroxide
      • Clear, resealable containers
      • Protective glasses
      • Gloves
      • Funnel and other measuring devices

      Using Luminol

      • 2 large ceramic mixing bowls
      • Clear containers like test tubes or glass jars with lids
      • 2 liters (67 fl oz) of distilled water
      • 50 milliliters (1.7 fl oz) of 3% hydrogen peroxide
      • 0.2 grams of luminol (do not touch it; use the container to pour from and wear gloves)
      • 4 grams of sodium carbonate
      • 24 grams of sodium bicarbonate
      • 0.5 gram of ammonium carbonate
      • 0.4 gram of copper sulfate pentahydrate
      • Protective glasses
      • Gloves
      • Funnel and other measuring devices

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Make a Glow Stick Costume
      Easiest Way to Install LED Strip Lights
      How to
      Test LED Lights
      How to
      Cut Led Strip Lights
      How to
      Make a Homemade Flashlight
      How to
      Daisy Chain Lights
      How to
      Hang Fairy Lights
      How to
      Install a New Light Fixture
      How to
      Wire a Light
      How to
      Install a New Ceiling Light Fixture
      How to
      Install a Pendant Light
      How to
      Connect LED Strip Lights
      How to
      Replace a Fluorescent Light Cover, Tube, or Fixture
      How to
      Test Fluorescent Bulbs
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://www.alfa.com
      2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/united-states.html
      3. ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViJknvEEEOA
      4. ↑ https://chem.utah.edu/_resources/documents/pdf/undergrad_program/luminol.pdf
      5. ↑ https://chem.utah.edu/_resources/documents/pdf/undergrad_program/luminol.pdf
      6. ↑ http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/story/55-glow_stick.html
      7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tItOOpyJP5k

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a glowstick, start by putting on latex gloves, goggles, and a face mask since you'll be working with dangerous chemicals. Then, mix 3 milligrams of fluorescent dye with 10 milliliters of solvent Diethyl Phthalate. Next, add 50 milligrams of TCPO and 100 milligrams of sodium acetate. Finally, add 3 milliliters of 30 percent hydrogen peroxide and shake everything together so the mixture starts to glow. To learn how to make glowsticks using luminol, scroll down!

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 791,098 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement