Chemiluminescence Lab

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The objective of this lab was to determine which chemicals produce light and the ratio of those chemicals that produce the brightest light and produce the longest duration of light by using a systematic approach. Manipulating the reaction conditions to extend glow time and creating a luminol stock were also objectives in this lab. After finishing the experiment and investigating chemiluminescence, the information gathered by the research team was shared among other research teams, so the experimental design could be evaluated and the results compared to others. Chemiluminescence is the process where light is produced without heat because of a chemical reaction. When the chemical reaction takes place, the molecule is excited from its ground…show more content…
One common place to observe chemiluminescence is at a crime scene because luminol’s reaction is commonly used in forensics because of its chemiluminescent reaction with blood. The iron located in the hemoglobin in the blood acts as a catalyst and causes the area with blood to light up when luminol combined in a solution with hydrogen peroxide is sprayed over the area. Luminol also picks a variety of other substances such as bleach, feces, urine, and horseradish. Another area to observe chemiluminescence is in organisms. When chemiluminescence takes place in living organisms, chemiluminescence is called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence takes place in many deep sea creatures, terrestrial creatures like fire flies, fungi, and bacteria. Bioluminescence plays a large part in the survival of many different species because it is often used to find prey, to hide, and to communicate. Chemiluminescence can also be observed in glow sticks. Glow sticks were originally developed by the military for an illumination tool that was easy to conceal and very compact. Additionally, glow sticks are now used as an illumination tool for campers, divers, and partiers because of their conveniency, portability, and efficiency for producing a long last…show more content…
The reaction produced a steady glow that lasted for approximately 6 seconds and glowed with a brightness of 5 on a scale with 5 being the brightest glow. This ratio was chosen based on several factors. First, luminol was chosen to go first because for a majority of the time it produced brighter reactions for example on Day 1 in trials that had luminol first it produced reactions that went up to 3 to five range, trials 6, 7, 11, and 12. Trials that did not use luminol first constantly produced a light with a 2 brightness, if they produced a reaction. Also in Day 2 the results also showed that adding luminol first produced a brighter reaction because it produced the highest brightness in more trials, which were trials 15, 16, 22, 23. The HCl was chosen next because in trials 6, 9, and 12 the HCl was added second and the reaction produced a light. Bleach was then added because it was shown that it was a necessary chemical in both Day 1 and Day 2 because when it was not in the cell well the solution did not produce. This is illustrated in the Day 1 trials 2, 14, 18, 22, 23, and 24. DMSO and H2O were excluded from trial since they did not affect the reaction much. For example in trials 2, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, and 24 the absence of DMSO and H2O did not hinder the mixtures ability to produce light. Another reason this trial was
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