Is the liquid in a glow stick toxic?

Take a deep breath. The ingredients in glow sticks are generally non-toxic, and most cases will not require medical attention. However, if glow stick fluid is swallowed, it may cause an upset stomach and some mouth irritation.

What happens when you drink glowstick?

Ingesting a glow stick can cause mouth and throat irritation, vomiting, skin irritation or redness, and chemical irritation to the eyes.

What is glowstick fluid made of?

The glow stick contains two chemicals, a base catalyst, and a suitable dye (sensitizer, or fluorophor). This creates an exergonic reaction. The chemicals inside the plastic tube are a mixture of the dye, the base catalyst, and diphenyl oxalate. The chemical in the glass vial is hydrogen peroxide.

Are glow sticks toxic to fish?

All of our fishing glow sticks are non-toxic and non-flammable.

Which is the double ester of diphenyl oxalate?

Diphenyl oxalate (trademark name Cyalume) is a solid whose oxidation products are responsible for the chemiluminescence in a glowstick. This chemical is the double ester of phenol with oxalic acid. Upon reaction with hydrogen peroxide, 1,2-dioxetanedione is formed, along with release of the two phenols.

How is the diphenyl oxalate of phenol produced?

Diphenyl oxalate. It can be synthesized by fully esterifying phenol with oxalic acid. The reaction with hydrogen peroxide that diphenyl oxalate undergoes produces phenol and 1,2-dioxetanedione, which excites the dye and releases a photon as it decomposes to carbon dioxide .

Which is better oxalic acid or phenol ester?

The 2,4,6-trichlorophenol ester of oxalic acid is a solid and thus easier to handle. [clarification needed] Furthermore, since trichlorophenolate is the better leaving group, the reaction will proceed faster, again producing brighter light, as compared to the phenol ester.

What happens when hydrogen peroxide reacts with phenols?

Upon reaction with hydrogen peroxide, 1,2-dioxetanedione is formed, along with release of the two phenols. The dioxetanedione then reacts with a dye molecule, decomposing to form carbon dioxide and leaving the dye in an excited state. As the dye relaxes back to its unexcited state, it releases a photon of visible light.