Lights.com—Chemical Light Sticks 101
Chemical Light Sticks 101 Defined
Explanations in chemistry tend to be long and drawn out. That is why I am dedicated to making this discussion as brief as possible. Just think of this page as a cheat sheet for Chemical Light Sticks 101. I will be informative, I will be precise, but most importantly I will be brief.
Chemical light sticks have three basic components: two chemicals that work together to release energy, and a fluorescent dye to convert that energy into light. The most common energy releasing chemicals used in light sticks are hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate ester. A glass vial inside the plastic tubing of a light stick keeps these chemicals separate. It is only when the chemical light stick is bent (and the glass vial inside breaks, releasing its chemical contents into the plastic tube) that the chemicals mix, thereby producing light.
See how easy that was? Now, I could go into specifics as to how, exactly, the chemical reaction works, but you don't really want to know that, do you? Otherwise, give yourself a pat on the back because you have just passed Chemical Light Sticks 101 with flying colors!
