How to Make a Glowstick

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: April 22, 2022

Those glowing Mountain Dew videos with peroxide and baking soda are all hoaxes. To truly make a glowstick without breaking an already-made glowstick and shoving its contents into a tube (also known as cheating), you need to let your inner scientist out (along with a few dollars). If you're still curious, read on.This is fun for anyone and everyone.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using TCPO (Multiple Colors)

1
Wear clothing to protect your eyes and skin. Some of the chemicals are carcinogenic and incredibly dangerous when used improperly. It should also be noted that these are expensive and often difficult to obtain chemicals, best bought in bulk. They are not conducive to only making one or two glow sticks. At the very least, you should have:
- Latex gloves
- Ventilated goggles (lab goggles)
- Long sleeves
- Face mask
- A clean, tidy work station
- Clean glass tubes or containers with matching lids.
2
Start with 10mL of the solvent Diethyl Phthalate (DP). This is your base and makes up the majority of the liquid in your glow sticks. It will hold the chemicals that actually glow and amplify them. Start with 10mL of DP, but know that you can double or half this for bigger or smaller sticks. This looks like water, but the chemical reaction necessary for glowing won't work in water
- You may have to dig around a bit online to find these chemicals. Chemistry giants Alfa Aesar^{[1]
  X
  Research source} and Sigma Aldrich^{[2]
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  Research source} are two great resources.
- If you double the solvent, then you should double the rest of the ingredients below.
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3
Add 3 mg of your chosen fluorescent dye to add color. You cannot use normal or additive dyes; make sure you're using fluorescent dyes. These dyes will not be the same color un-mixed as they are when they glow, so trust the guide given below to make your colors. There are a variety of different dyes you can use, depending on the color you want:
- 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene for green
- Rubrene for yellow
- 9,10-diphenylanthracene for blue
- Rhodamine B for red (note: rhodamine decays quickly, meaning reds tend to fade fast).
- Mix half yellow, half blue to create white.
4
Add 50 mg of TCPO to the dyed mixture. TCPO stands for bis (2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate, which you may need to know to purchase it. It's quite expensive to buy, but you can make it fairly cheaply if, again, you're experienced and competent around chemicals. Otherwise, making it is not advised.^{[3]
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Research source}
- The TCPO is used instead of luminol in this method -- it's the component that makes the mixture glow and it lasts for hours.
- TCPO is incredibly carcinogenic, and should be handled with care. Never inhale TCPO.
5
Add 100 mg of sodium acetate to the mixture. If you don't have sodium acetate, an even mixture of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium salicylic can effectively be used instead. When added, put the lid on and shake the bottle well.
6
Finally, add 3 milliliters (0.10 fl oz) of 3% hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. It's important to do this step last, as it creates the chemical reaction. Put the lid back on, shake it up well, and turn off the lights. You should have a quite impressive stick/tube/container glowing ferociously in front of you.
- The hydrogen peroxide is an activator, not part of the reaction, so you won't need much.
- When you buy glow sticks, the "crack" noise to activate them is breaking a little glass vial of hydrogen peroxide.
7
Add larger quantities of TCPO and Sodium Acetate to make the reaction go on for longer. If you so desire, mess around with the recipe to see what warrants the best results. This reaction works because TCPO and Sodium Acetate release energy when combined, as they start to decay. This energy is picked up by the florescent dyes, which can convert energy into light. More of each leads to more energy and a longer reaction.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Luminol

1
Put on protective glasses. In addition, wear gloves to protect your skin. It's also a good idea to not wear your Sunday best. Throw on some old clothes or put a smock over clothes you want protected. Some of this stuff is dangerous -- this experiment is not meant for children!
- Listen up, kids: You'll be working with a solution that's near a 12 on the pH scale. That basically means don't swallow it, don't put it in your eyes, don't bathe in it, and don't really expose yourself to it directly at all. Got it? Moving on.
2
Combine 50 milliliters of 3% hydrogen peroxide and a liter of distilled water in a mixing bowl. A ceramic bowl will work best, but plastic works too. Use funnels, measuring tubes, and basters to keep everything well-measured and well away from you.^{[4]
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- Hydrogen peroxide is used to replace the luminol's nitrogen atoms with oxygen. When that happens, all the substances create a rave and start partying and electrons fly everywhere and what results? The glow.
3
Mix .2 grams of luminol, 4 grams of sodium carbonate, 24 grams of sodium bicarbonate, .4 grams (0.01 oz) of copper sulfate, .5 grams (0.02 oz) of ammonium carbonate and 1 liter (0.3 US gal) of distilled water in a second bowl.^{[5]
X
Research source} It is important not to touch the luminol. Use a funnel to make everything safe and easy. Unfortunately, these hazardous chemicals will not float freely in mid-air like this graphic suggests.
- Yep, unless you're a coroner or some sort of crazy spy/criminologist you probably don't have this stuff lying around the house (hopefully not...). If you're dead set on starting your own glowstick business (worse ideas exist), try websites like Alfa Aesar^{[1]
  X
  Research source} or Sigma Aldrich^{[2]
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  Research source} for supplies.
- Mix everything well. Don't use your hands -- use a metal or plastic utensil of some sort.
4
Clean the containers and dry them thoroughly. It's important to use sanitary, clean tubes for your glowsticks. The last thing you want is other substances interacting with the reactions you're depending on to make the substances glow.
5
Set the correct lid next to each container. This enables you to seal the containers quickly after filling. It's not like the glow will get up and run away from you, but still.
6
Combine equal amounts of the first and second solution in the container and close the bottles. Shake them up once the lids are on tightly. Then turn off the lights!
- If it's not already glowing, something went wrong. Do over!
7
Watch as the chemical compound creates a colorful glow. Take your glowsticks to the party and charge your friends loads of money for them! But act quickly...the glow won't last very long. Expectations crushed? Method one to the rescue!
- The reaction that the luminol and hydrogen peroxide creates doesn't last long at all -- maybe a couple of minutes. For something that lasts hours, go to the next method (which is a lot easier to facilitate if you have access to a laboratory, but it's still worth mentioning).

Community Q&A

Question

Is it dangerous for kids?

FALLON MARTIN

Community Answer

It can be if you're not careful. Make sure you have the supervision and help of an adult.
Question

Is there another way to make it without using those chemicals?

Community Answer

You can use the ink from fluorescent highlighter pens as well. Check out Method 2 in this article.
Question

How do you make glow in the dark paint?

Community Answer

Choose a glow in the dark powder or phosphorescent powder, and stir a small amount into your choice of paint (white would work the best). For more information, check out How to Make Glow in the Dark Paint.

Warnings

Children should be supervised when using glowsticks. It may be tempting for them to break the stick apart and play with or ingest the contents, which can cause serious injury.

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Always wear protective glasses when working with chemical substances.

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These are very serious methods of create glowsticks. Nothing simpler is described because it does not exist. Leave the glowing to the pros if you're only looking to mess around -- this stuff is dangerous.

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Wear gloves. Do not touch luminol or consume it.^{[6]
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Copper sulfate is toxic. Again: be careful.^{[7]
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Things You'll Need

Method One: Using TCPO

10mL Diethyl Phthalate
3mg of fluorescent dye
50mg TCPO
100mg sodium acetate
3mL 3% hydrogen peroxide
Clear, resealable containers
Protective glasses
Gloves
Funnel and other measuring devices

Method Two: Using Luminol

2 large ceramic mixing bowls
Clear containers like test tubes or glass jars with lids
2 liters (67 fl oz) of distilled water
50 milliliters (1.7 fl oz) of 3% hydrogen peroxide
0.2 grams of luminol (do not touch it; use the container to pour from and wear gloves)
4 grams of sodium carbonate
24 grams of sodium bicarbonate
0.5 gram of ammonium carbonate
0.4 gram of copper sulfate pentahydrate
Protective glasses
Gloves
Funnel and other measuring devices