“Light tornado” experiment
Instructions on how to make a tornado glowing in the dark
Chemists know how to make a tornado, it’s spectacular and not dangerous at all! The experiment demonstrates the phenomenon of chemiluminescence – the release of light in a chemical reaction.
Reagents and equipment:
- sodium hydroxide;
- luminol;
- potassium ferrocyanide;
- 30% hydrogen peroxide;
- distilled water;
- glass rod;
- beaker;
- Petri dish.
Step-by-step instructions
Add sodium hydroxide, luminol and distilled water to the beaker and mix well, then add the hydrogen peroxide and mix again. Turn off the light and add potassium ferrocyanide.
Processes description
In an alkaline medium, luminol is easily oxidized by hydrogen peroxide. Potassium ferrocyanide is the catalyst for the oxidation of luminol by the peroxide. An unstable particle forms, which breaks down with the release of light.
Safety precautions
Wear protective gloves and glasses.
Don’t try to repeat this experiment without a professional supervision!
