Glow Sticks at Different Temperatures

Glow sticks glow due to chemiluminescence, a chemical reaction that releases light. Cold slows the reaction, producing a dimmer glow, while heat speeds it up, making the glow brighter but shorter-lived.

1. Snap and shake three glow sticks of the same color to activate them.
2. Place one glow stick in a container of hot water.
3. Place the other glow stick in the freezer or in a container of ice water.
4. Keep one at room temperature as a control.
5. Wait a few minutes.
6. Remove the glow sticks and compare their brightness and glow intensity.
7. Optionally, swap their environments (move the frozen one into hot water) and observe the changes.

Glowstick Demonstration (Kinetics) - chemistryinaminute:

How Does Temperature Affect Glowsticks? - Thompson STEM Engagement:

📄 Glow Stick Experiment with Chemiluminescence Science - Little Bins for Little Hands: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/glow-stick-experiment-chemiluminescence-science/

• Test glow sticks in different temperature water (room temperature, warm, very hot, or icy cold).
• Try different colors of glow sticks to see if some respond more strongly to temperature changes.
• Measure how long glow sticks last at each temperature.
• Leave one in the freezer overnight to test if the glow lasts longer.

• Do not cut open glow sticks—chemicals inside are not safe to touch or ingest.
• Use caution with hot water to avoid burns.
• Dispose of used glow sticks responsibly; do not put them in the microwave or dishwasher.
• Supervise children during handling.

• Why does the glow stick in hot water shine more brightly? (The reaction rate increases with heat.)
• Why does the glow stick in the freezer glow more dimly but last longer? (The reaction slows down.)
• How does this demonstrate the effect of temperature on chemical reaction rates?
• What happens if you return the frozen glow stick to warm water?
• How does chemiluminescence differ from light produced by heat, like a candle or a bulb?