A LABORATORY PROTOCOL ON THE CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT CARRIED OUT AT DAUGAVPILS SECONDARY SCHOOL NO. 3 IN LATVIA

GLOW STICK REACTION

Experimental procedure:

  1. Add TCPO powder to the test tube with a screw cap.
  2. Add dye, followed by sodium acetate and ethyl acetate.
  3. Close test tube with a screw cap and shake it gently for a few seconds.
  4. Add hydrogen peroxide solution to the mixture, close test tube and shake it again.

Precautions:

Hydrogen peroxide is corrosive and can cause skin burns. Ethyl acetate is moderately toxic and can absorb through the skin and respiratory organs. TCPO can irritate skin and eyes.

Use all safety equipment (lab googles, protective gloves, lab coats).

Participants have learned how to recreate reaction used in glow sticks and know general mechanisms according to which the reaction proceeds.  

Expected results:

Participants have learned how to recreate reaction used in glow sticks and know general mechanisms according to which the reaction proceeds.