Glow sticks are not only useful in different party situations, the neon light they emit also open doors to artistry and creative expressions. Although a glow stick cannot be recharged, the glow lasts for a few hours, does not need batteries nor a bulb to light up. Aren’t you curious how the neon light is activated and sustained?
What Produces the Neon Light?
There are two separate chambers in a glow stick, each containing a different chemical. When the stick is bent, the smaller glass vial in the core of the glow stick breaks. This causes the mixture of the two chemicals. Their subsequent reaction produces another solution that generates energy when mixed with fluorescent dye. Such an energy is manifested as the neon light we see in glow sticks.
Glow sticks are usually good for about 30 minutes to a couple of hours. The neon light is still emitted during this time since the energy inside the stick is yet to run out. In addition, you can actually make glow sticks brighter by exposing them to heat. Doing this, though, will make the neon light die out faster. In a reverse effect, you can also slow down the chemical reaction inside the sticks by putting them inside a freezer.
The Hazards of the Neon Light
The very chemicals that cause the production of the neon light can cause irritation when they come in contact with our skin. In some extreme cases, nausea and vomiting may also occur. Interestingly, people who go to rave parties at times break the sticks intentionally to move the neon glow to their bare skin.
There have been talk about the possibility of glow stick chemicals causing cancer. No research, though, has thus far proven that this is factual. Just to be sure, you should avoid contact of these chemicals with the thin membranes of our body, like our eyes and nose.
Contrary to common rumor, ingestion or smoking or glowing phenol does not cause any drug-like effect on the body. It pays to note that the same chemical is capable of dissolving some plastic types, so why ingest it? The newer glow sticks being produced today are said to be non-toxic.