Is it possible to make a chemical light source with your own hands?

Oh, these Jedi with their lightsabers, excited the minds of millions, did not bypass us. In the movie everything looked more than spectacular, and about 10 years ago, multicolored luminous sticks, brought from the Chinese flea market and only very remotely resembling the tools of the knights mentioned, made a furor. Practical people, like fishermen and researchers, immediately appreciated such lamps not only as a means of creating a suitable entourage, but also as an alternative light source. 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 can not work. The inquisitive minds of the experimenters immediately wondered how difficult it is to make such a chemical light source with our own hands.

HIS Species

HIS - a chemical light source of factory production can be found not only in toys and jewelry stores. Models are larger and, of course, are stronger in the special equipment of rescuers, submariners, speleologists and other specialists associated with unusual working conditions. Ingredients involved in the reaction are quite difficult for the layman, and some cost a serious amount. Some reagents can be unsafe, and this would be avoided in handicraft production. In general, several methods have been identified experimentally, including ineffectual ones.

Failure with lemonade

не работает. Sadly, we can say that the famous trick with Mountain Dew does not work. To be quite accurate, it does not work with the ingredients used in the known experiment, because the luminaire in a plastic bottle based on this drink is quite realizable. About this a little later.

The simplest lamp on acetone

The catalytic oxidation of acetone can be regarded as a source of light, the chemical principle of which does not differ from ordinary burning. The only difference is the absence of an open flame. In short, a small amount of acetone is poured into the transparent container. It is important only to create a place for the formation and accumulation of fumes of fuel and mixing them with the oxygen of the air. Copper wire is wound with a spring or other means so that the turns are closer to each other 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 luminary gives off a lot of heat, and the light is obtained because of the heating of copper, but the unusual and chemical component is available, so we could not ignore it.

Chemical light by oxidation of luminol

The search for suitable ingredients and a working recipe led finally to a satisfactory result. Luminol is used in forensic science to detect blood debris: iron ions in the plasma act as a catalyst, and luminol is oxidized with the emission of light. Find this substance is not difficult, the drug "Galavit" contains sodium salt luminol in sufficient quantities for several experiments with the manufacture of substances used as a source of light. The chemical aspect of the whole action implies that the containers for the luminaire will not be used in everyday life to exclude poisoning or skin damage by aggressive substances. Be careful when carrying out tests, use protective gloves, goggles and a respirator if necessary.

Production of chemical light sources (HIS) in aqueous solutions

So, we have decided on the main reagent, we need to think about the ideal reaction conditions. As a liquid medium, a solvent is required. In its role can act ordinary water from the tap, however luminol is practically insoluble in it. In order for the reaction to proceed evenly, "Galavit" must be finely grinded and a suspension prepared, and a catalyst with a large release of iron or copper ions in the solution is required. Copper sulphate or copper sulfate, as it is called, will be an excellent reaction enhancer in water. To create an alkaline environment, ammonia is required, or sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The oxidizer is hydrogen peroxide, the proportions are as follows:

• 100 ml of water mixed with 2-3 tablets of "Galavita";

• Add 50 ml of hydrogen peroxide;

• 3-5 g of copper sulphate or red blood salt;

• 30 ml of ammonia or 15 ml of a solution of KOH or NaOH.

The glow will appear almost immediately after mixing and will last for several hours. To continue the action, you need to add a grated "Galavit" and hydrogen peroxide in the solution and shake it lightly.

Experiments with "Dimexide"

Experiments with water give a result weaker than expected, due to the poor solubility of luminol, it is worth looking for a better medium. Dimethyl sulfoxide perfectly copes with the problem of dissolving reagents, you can buy it in pharmacies called "Dimexide." Use caution when working with this drug, because its penetrating ability makes the skin permeable to various dirt, which under normal conditions is successfully restrained by our natural protective coating. The reaction catalyst will have to be removed, because with vitriol and blood salt the reaction proceeds too rapidly and for a short time. Experienced the following proportions:

• в сухом виде (следует полностью отказаться от воды для чистоты эксперимента); About 20 g of KOH or NaOH in dry form (the water should be completely discarded for the purity of the experiment);

• 100 ml of "Dimexide", it is not necessary to completely dissolve the hydroxide, and the reaction will begin on the surface of its precipitate;

• 1 tablet "Galavita", grinded into powder, 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 of the reliability and tightness of the container. It is worth noting that a caustic mixture of alkali and "Dimexide" corrodes plastic bottles of the day for 3-4, so it is advisable only one-time and short-term use of such containers for the preparation of chemical light sources.

Other options

There are many recipes for creating such fluids as a chemical light source, there are options for using a washing liquid as a medium and even human blood as a catalyst, but most of them are only variants of the recipes we have considered. You and you can choose your own reagents and their correlation for the experience, including with the soda Mountain Dew.