Adam Rosenbaum

Chemistry 2*
March 15, 2019

Luminol
Chemiluminescence ​Lantern
Proof of Efficacy Document

Final molecular blueprint

 We designed a device that harnesses the chemiluminescence of luminol and
changes chemical potential energy to light energy. To use the device, the user only has
to combine two solutions. One solution contains luminol, sodium hydroxide, and
deionized water. When mixing the luminol and sodium hydroxide, two protons leave the
Nitrogens on a luminol molecule, and the molecule is now a dianion. When the
luminol/sodium hydroxide solution is mixed with hydrogen peroxide, oxygens replace
the Nitrogens, bonding to carbon molecules. This structural change is sped up by
potassium ferricyanide, a catalyst mixed with the hydrogen peroxide.This is now an
aminophthalate molecule at an excited state, and its electrons will change to lower
energy states to become stable again which puts off light energy as photons. The light
energy is seen as a dark blue fluorescent glow which slowly fades away.

We made multiple modifications to our device. We added ice to the collection

container, to make the product glow longer. To find the optimal temperature, we
conducted a series of tests with different temperatures. From these tests, we concluded
that colder temperatures make the solution glow longer, which was our goal for an
efficient chemical lantern. The reason the solution lasts longer at colder temperatures is
because the dianion and hydrogen peroxide molecules are less likely to react to each
other because the molecules are moving slower. This makes a more gradual glow. With
higher temperatures, all the molecules are more likely to interact immediately which
makes for a short, bright glow.
Another modification was spacing out the tubes so that less liquid was stuck
inside of the tubes. This worked well by allowing the user to use less solution and
achieve the same bright glow. We used a larger collection container later on, in order to
catch more solution as well. We also decided to pour the solution straight from the
beakers, instead of pipettes, so the lantern was quicker and easier to use.

Our main energy transfer was from potential chemical energy to light energy. We
also transferred potential energy to gravitational kinetic energy with the mixing of
solutions in tubes. We calculated the light energy (hv) put off by the reaction by using
the equation E=hv. In this equation, E represents the energy expelled; h represents
Planck's constant (always 6.62e​-34​ ​m2​​ kg/s); and v represents the frequency of energy
put off by a photon. We only knew h, so we calculated v with ​the equation λ=c/ν. λ is the
wavelength of the light energy, which we estimated at 480 nm for blue with the table
below. c is the speed of light which is known too. We calculated v to be ​1.87e23 Hz.
Now that we had v, we multiplied h and v to calculate that each photon puts out ​4.2e-19
J. Unfortunately, there we were unable to calculate the amount of photons in our
product.
On another note, we found that the change in energy of these two reactions was
360 kj/mol. We found this by subtracting the energy of bonds formed by those of bonds
broken. This means that the reaction took in heat energy or was endothermic.

Our device is very useful and safe. It creates light in a dark space without a fire
danger. It also can create light for a long time, unlike combustion reactions. The lantern
can be used in a survival situation. For example, if the environment is too windy for fire
or no fuel is available. This lantern mixes the two solutions thoroughly in the tubes with
the use of gravity.

Color of hv Wavelength (nm)

Violet 380-450 nm

Blue 450-485 nm

Cyan 485-500 nm

Green 500-565 nm

Yellow 565-590 nm

Orange 590-625 nm

Red 625-740 nm

Temp of Collection Time of Glow (min)

Container
10℃ 6:03.32

20℃ 3:28.84

25℃ 3:04.72