noun

1. a plastic tube containing a luminescent material
2. a single-use translucent plastic tube containing isolated substances which when combined are capable of producing light through a chemical reaction-induced chemoluminescence which does not require an electrical power source.

IT'S COMPLICATED!

Three solutions are involved in a glow stick's glow.

hydrogen peroxide

phenyl oxalate ester

fluorescent dye

Phase One

The solutions hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate ester react to produce light.

• The reactant diphenyl oxalate is oxidised by the reactant hydrogen peroxide.
• One of the products produced is the unstable compound 1,2-dioxetanedione
• 1,2-dioxetanedione is highly unstable and decomposes into carbon dioxide.
• As it decomposes it also releases energy.
• The electrons in the molecules of the dye absorb the released energy.
  
• The absorbed energy "excites" the dye molecules.

Phase Two

• As the absorbed energy is used up dye molecules return to their original state.
  
• IOW, they begin to cool down returning to the original energy level .
  
• As this happens, the excess energy is released in the form of photons of light.
  
• This process is known as chemiluminescence.
  
• It is the dye color which determines the color of light achieved.
  

Study the following three chemical changes water, glucose, and glowsticks.

Notice how the chemical equations increase with complexity.....

It is the emission of light by certain materials when they are relatively cool.

It is often called "cold light".

It transforms invisible forms of energy into visible light.
It is seen in:

1. neon and fluorescent lamps - television, radar, and X-ray fluoroscope screens
2. organic substances - fireflies and glowworms
3. natural electrical phenomena - lightning and aurora borealis
4. glowsticks !

It is not light emitted from incandescent bodies, such as burning wood or coal.
It cannot result from material above room temperature.

Encyclopedia Britannica

is the production and emission of light by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy. It is widespread in the marine environment, but rare in terrestrial and especially freshwater environments. Examples include emission of visible light by dinoflagellates, jellyfish, squid, copepods, fireflies, and many other organisms belonging to a wide diversity of taxonomic groups.

Fluorescence

• some form of radiation, such as light, causes an object to glow

Phosphorescence

• just like fluorescence, except the glow continues even after the light used is removed

Electroluminescence

• high voltage electricity passes through a gas, the gas can become excited and glow
• lightening is an electrical spark passing through the air causing it to glow brightly

Triboluminescence

• sometimes light is produced when objects are broken, scratched, or pulled apart