TravisBell

ExtendedEssayResearchReflection

ThroughtheexplorationofDiplomaProgramChemistryanditsrelationtothe
extendedessay,Ichosetoexploretheareaoforganicchemistryanditsluminescent
compounds.Particularly,Ifocusedontheresearchbehindluminolandits
chemiluminescentpropertiesandmechanismsasIdiscoveredthroughresearchthat
differentreactionoutcomesmaybeachievedthroughtheexplorationofvariablessuch
aspHandoxidizingagentconcentration.
Firstly,Idiscoveredthatthemainmechanismwithwhichluminolfluoresces
involvestheadditionofanoxidizingagentsuchashydrogenperoxide.Thisreactionis
dependentonacatalystsuchasametalcationandahighpHleveltoincreasereaction
speedandoxidation,thusincreasingtheluminosity.Also,thepreferredmethodfor
observingthisreactioninvolvesconstructinganapparatusinwhichtwosolutions,oneof
theluminolandtheotheroftheoxidizingagentarecombinedtoexhibitluminols
fluorescentproperties.(Chasteen).
Secondly,Idiscoveredthatchemiluminescentreactionsarepresentinnature.
Forexample,deepseacreaturesandfirefliesexhibitbioluminescence,atype
chemiluminescencewithinanorganism.Ialsolearnedthatthewavelengthofthe
luminolemissionspectraisarelationinvolvingtotalenergydividedbyplancks
constant.Thisisduetothetheorythatlightemissionisduetothemovementof
electronsfromanexcitedstatetogroundstate,thusresultinginenergyemissioninthe
formofradiation.Also,thesejumpsmaybepredictedindistinctstatesorstages

pertainingtotheorbitalswithwhichanelectronmayexistin.(Luminol:TheGlowing
Reaction).
Third,IlearnedthatluminolsynthesisinvolvesusingfreebaseHydrazineto
reduce3Nitrophthalicacidto5Nitrophthalhydrazide.Ialsolearnedthatthiscompound
isfurthertransformedbyreductionofanitrogroupusingsodiumdithionitetoyieldthe
finalproductofLuminol.AlsoIfoundtheoreticalargumentsdetailingtheimpactofpH
onthisreaction,statingthatinanalkalinesolution,Luminolisconvertedtoitsdianion,
whichallowsitsoxidationandluminescence.(Pavia).
Fourth,IdiscoveredthatpHofluminolsolutionsaswellasthecatalyticsaltused,
potassiumferrate(III),maybevariedtoachievedifferentresultsinreactionrate,and
thusluminosityofthesolution.Additionally,Ilearnedthatchemiluminescencemaybe
exhibitedandchangedthroughtheproductionofdifferentisomersofluminolrelated
compounds.(Sleigh).
Finally,Idiscoveredthatluminolanditsrelatedcompoundsareaffected
differentlywitheachoxidizingagentandthatreactionrateandluminescentproperties
maychangebasedontheconditionsofoxidation,weatheritbethroughpHorthetype
ofagentaddedtothesolution.Additionally,Ilearnedthattheconcentrationofhydrogen
peroxideasanoxidizingagenthasalargeimpactontheintensityandrateofthe
reaction.Ialsolearnedofamethodtomeasurethesevariablesusinga
Microluminoreader,adevicethatmeasuresvariablessuchasreactionratethrough
perceivedluminosityandchromatography.(Yoshida).