Title

General Chemistry Laboratory Experiment To Demonstrate Organic Synthesis, Fluorescence, and Chemiluminescence Through Production of a Biphasic Glow Stick

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2017

Abstract

A laboratory experiment is described for beginning, nonmajor chemistry students, which allows students to examine the phenomena of fluorescence and chemiluminescence, as well as gain experience in basic organic synthesis. Students synthesize fluorescein and bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO) to explore fluorescence and chemiluminescence by assembling a biphasic glow stick. The experiment gives students the opportunity to understand the chemistry behind common “real-life” experiences of glow stick illumination and fluorescent lighting or inks and to synthesize compounds that exhibit these phenomena. Students’ survey data between 2013 and 2016 show that the experiment was enjoyable to undergraduate nonscience majors (4.3 of 5 cumulative, 4.8 in 2016) and relevant to their lives (4.0 of 5 cumulative, 4.4 in 2016).

Publication Title

Journal of Chemical Education

Volume

94

Issue

10

First Page

1580

Last Page

1583

DOI of Published Version

10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00194

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