Re: How can I make a non-toxic glow in the dark liquid using water ?

Hello Christine,

There are several ways of producing 'cold light', or things that glow in the dark. Chemiluminescence is a process where the enthalpy of a chemical reaction, usually an oxidation reaction, is given off as light. The analogous biological process is known as Bioluminescence and manifests itself as the glow from certain bacteria, fireflies and glow worms. Reagents for the chemi and bioluminescent reactions are readily available, eg from Aldrich. For a vivid chemilumiescent reaction, simply prepare a dilute solution of luminol (around 0.001M) in an aqueous pH 9 or 10 buffer solution. Add a few grains of a cobalt salt such as cobalt nitrate. Finally, add a little commercially available hydrogen peroxide and in a dark room the blue light emission is breathtaking.

Bioluminescence can be produced by mixing the luciferase (enzyme) from e.g. a firefly and it's luciferin (substrate). Again, I believe that these can be readily bought from Aldrich.

As for toxicity, obviously hydrogen peroxide solutions are very dangerous for children to use. I would not allow children to handle these chemicals. A proper evaluation of the safety implications should be carried out prior to use. There are no totally non toxic materials. You can buy light sticks from most campling stores and these can be handled in safety, as the reagents are enclosed.

A review can be found in Endeavour, 1992, Vol 16, issue no. 4, page 194 to 200. The author is a very talented young scientist called J.S. Lancaster!

I include two useful web sites:

http://www.sciam.com/askexpert/chemistry/chemistry17/chemistry17.html

http:/ /www.shsu.edu/~chm_tgc/chemilumdir/chemiluminescence2.html

The second site has links to a research group at Deakin University. Simon Lewis there is very active in the field of chemiluminescence and would be a good source of advise nearer to home.

I hope this helps.

Good luck,

Steve Lancaster.