luminescence

The reaction is started in the dark with the liquid oxidant (H₂O₂ dissolved in an organic solvent) already in the glass flask and then the liquid fuel is added quickly from above. These reactants are mixed together by gently swirling. The reaction's light emission reaches a maximum after about 10 seconds. If you look carefully you can see the chemist's hand as he manipulates the reaction vessel. Like most chemiluminescent reactions, none of the energy released by the reaction ends up as heat: The temperature of this reaction mixture is almost exactly the same as the temperature of the reagents before mixing.

This movie was made by Dr. Thomas G. Chasteen at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas.