why are glowy sticks glowy and are they toxic?

Question

Glowy sticks glow in the dark and you can get them at fun fairs or at the circus but why do they glow and are they toxic.??? what do you think would happen if the stuff inside went on your skin???

Answer 1

when snapped they cause a chemical reaction... and no i dont think so

Answer 2

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Anatomy of a glow stick: Inner glass capsule containing a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and a phthalate ester solvent. Outer soft plastic capsule (in the form of a stick, necklace, earrings, button, whatever...) containing phenyl oxalate ester and fluorescent dye. Snap the inner capsule, and the resulting mixture frantically transfers oxygen atoms around, creating an unstable compound that gives off energy to the dye, then decomposes into carbon dioxide. The energized dye radiates the colored light you see in the light stick. In a cold environment, the chemical reaction is slowed so the light is dimmer but longer lasting. The opposite, of course, if it's hot.

Two major manufacturers of glow sticks say there's nothing in this soup of alcohol and acids that will hurt you if you get it on your skin. I don't think they had your stripper in mind when they said that, and she probably has to be careful of any glass shards that might be released, but a quick post-performance sponge bath should put her out of danger. (Though my attorney suggests that you forget I ever answered this question if you're not an experienced stripper with at least a B-plus average in two semesters of organic chemistry.) Some chemically created cold light uses a mixture that includes sodium hydroxide, which is potentially dangerous.

Answer 3

when snapped they cause a chemical reaction, and they are considered non-toxic.. they even make glow sticks that you can put in your mouth.. and believe me, they bust some times... had 3 or 4 bust on me back in my college days and never became ill from it.. but i wouldn't go out and try to drink them or something because I'm sure if you had enough of the stuff in there it could cause a problem one way or another.

Answer 4

Some chemical reactions emit light. That's what is happening. Glowy sticks are toxic but only if you eat them. Wash the stuff off your skin - no damage.

BTW, welcome to Y!answers. There are quite a few idiots on here who will give you abuse. Just ignore them: one day they will go away.

Answer 5

They were first introduced during night time sky diving so that each skydiver could see eack other when in formations at 1200 feet at night time......i guess they are harmfull if cracked and your skin is open to them cos of the chemistry between the liquid and the crystals inside....But dont drink it cos every one will see you taking a wee no matter how well you hide yours self, as for a man dont drbble down your pants cos theres NO wiping off lol

Answer 6

It's a chemical reaction. You don't want to eat them.

In college, at Halloween my roommate and I burst them, cut them and splashed the stuff all over our room. Tricky because there is a glass capsule inside, we didn't realize at first.

Also once the stuff comes into contact with oxygen the life cycle clsoer to half an hour than the 8 hours as labeled. But still, it was cool as heck

Answer 7

They glow because of a chemical reaction.
In this case the energey produced by the reaction is not emitted as heat (or an explosion) instead it is emtted as light.

The chemicals react to form a product in an excited state. The product then releases it energy as light to return to it groud state.

Answer 8

Party favors, attention getters for bar hopping, non toxic.

Answer 9

I ate one and not only did I feel ill it made my poo glow green for a week.

Answer 10

they same reason that tree sticks grow on trees, duh