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What makes something glow in the dark? The only explanation that I can come up with for what makes things glow in the dark is that there is probably a chemical reaction slowly releasing the light that was previously absorbed. Am I correct?
How does this phenomenon work?
The spontaneous emission of light by a substance not resulting from heat is luminescence (a type of cold-body radiation). $\ce{^1}$
A few types of luminescence are:
Phosphorescence: photoluminescence as a result of triplet-singlet electronic relaxation (typical lifetime: milliseconds to hours)
A chemical absorbs and then re-emits a photon of light, where the energy of the photons matches the available energy states and allowed transitions of the chemical takes place. In phosphorescence, the electron that absorbs the photon undergoes intersystem crossing $\ce{^2}$ into a triplet state.
The excited in triplet state returns to the lower energy singlet state. Such transitions, are kinetically unfavored and progress at a slow rate. Most phosphorescent compounds are fast emitters with triplet lifetimes in milliseconds. If triplet lifetimes are minutes or even hours, very slow degradation occurs.$\ce{^3}$ $\ce{^4}$ In phosphorescent materials, there's a delay between them absorbing energy and giving out light.These substances are so-called "glow-in-the-dark" materials.
To make glow-in-the-dark toys manufacturers mix zinc sulfide or strontium aluminate with plastic giving in glow-in-the-dark toys.$\ce{^5}$ $\ce{^6}$
Fluorescence
Fluorescent materials produce light instantly, when the excited atoms return to normal, in as little as a hundred thousandth of a second.$\ce{^4}$ $\ce{^7}$
Chemoluminescence
In the case of chemiluminescence, two chemicals interact which giving energy as a byproduct in the form of light( heatless glow).
When glow sticks are bent, an inner glass tube is broken releasing hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide reacts with diphenyl oxalate giving 1,2dioxetanedione, which is unstable. It decomposes to carbon dioxide releasing energy. The energy is absorbed by electrons in dye molecule, that falls down to ground state releasing energy in the form of light.$\ce{^8}$ $\ce{^9}$
Chemiluminescence can happen naturally as well. In such instances — like fireflies — it is bioluminescence.
Some creatures, such as fireflies and jellyfish, contain chemicals within them that cause them to glow. Some of these creatures glow for protection, camouflage or to attract mates.
Ex 1.Bobtail squid $\ce{^12}$ $\ce{^13}$
Ex.2 Mycena lampadis ( mushrooms )$\ce{^14}$
The principal chemical reaction in bioluminescence involves some light-emitting molecule and an enzyme, generally called the luciferin and the luciferase.$\ce{^10}$ $\ce{^11}$ $\ce{^15}$
Electrochemiluminescence $\ce{^16}$is a special form of chemiluminescence in which the light-emitting chemiluminescent reaction is preceded by an electrochemical reaction.$\ce{^17}$
References
1 https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Analytical_Chemistry/Map%3A_Principles_of_Instrumental_Analysis_(Skoog_et_al.)/15%3A_Molecular_Luminescence_Spectrometry
2 https://www.shsu.edu/chm_tgc/chemilumdir/JABLONSKI.html
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersystem_crossing
4 https://teaching.shu.ac.uk/hwb/chemistry/tutorials/molspec/lumin1.htm
5 http://www.phys.ubbcluj.ro/~dana.maniu/OS/BS_7.pdf
6 https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/science-questions/question388.htm
6 https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-do-things-glow-in-the-dark
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescence#Lifetime
[8] https://www.compoundchem.com/2014/10/14/glowsticks/
[9] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glow_stick#Fluorophores_used
[10] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioluminescence#Chemical_mechanism
[11] https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/bioluminescence/
[12] https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/bioluminescence/
[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sepiola_atlantica.jpg
[14]https://www.timeforkids.com/g34/bioluminescence-2/
[15] http://photobiology.info/Branchini2.html
[16] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/electrochemiluminescence
[17] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0008622317304943
The glow in the dark phenomena is called luminescence. It can be caused by chemical reactions, electrical energy, subatomic motions, or stress on a crystal. Three of the common mechanisms are:
I know Wikipedia is not at all a reference, but there you can find an overview of all types of luminescence.
When a glow stick breaks, it breaks a thin glass barrier on the inside that allows two different substances to come into contact, mix and react. I am not sure of the exact reaction that occurs, but when chemical bonds are broken they can emit photons (light). In this case, the photons emitted are in the visible spectrum.
The case for glow in the dark stickers is a bit different. All things are absorbing and releasing photons constantly, but in most cases, the photons aren't in the visible spectrum. Glow in the dark things absorb visible light and then release the photons as visible light. This is unlike most other objects which may release them as a lower frequency instead and thus not be visible.
Reactions emits energy in different forms. Could be heat, light or electrical. If the form emited is light energy form it surely will glow irrespective of the external environmental characteristics in this case dark!
