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So you're interested in the dynamics of lightsticks. You may have seen your kid using it during halloween, or you, yourself, used it during one of the recent climate change storms (my area was blacked out for twenty hours). This amazing little technological wonder is basically three chemicals: hydrogen peroxide, phenyl oxate (kept separate), and a fluorescent dye (giving the ensuing light different colors). The hydrogen peroxide and the phenyl oxate combine to release energy and the fluorescent dye reacts with it, converting it to light.

To activate this little marvel, you bend the plastic stick which breaks the glass vial keeping the phenyl oxate and hydrogen peroxide separate. The chemical reaction starts light that can be a great aid to campers, truckers, late night motorists and pedestrians walking through dark, unlight areas. The ensuing light is not caused by heat or doesn't necessarily radiate heat, but it is vulnerable to environmental changes such as cold and heat. A cold day will diminish the chemical reaction, causing much less light (depending on the temperature), but prolonging the light. A warmer night will give more light, less time. Something to note if you are in different environments-take more sticks in colder weather, less in warmer.

A nice little device to be taken along with you on those long, dark nights.

Learn more about this author, Todd Daigneault.
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