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Luminol Demo
Materials
Solution A
(1 liter)0.1 g Luminol (3-aminophthalhydrazide) and
5 mL 5% NaOH (sodium hydroxide)Solution B
(1 liter)10 ml 6% H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) and
0.25 g potassium ferricyanideSmall bottle of potassium ferricyanide crystals
White glow sticks
2-Liter flask or bottle
Procedure
In a 2-liter erlenmeyer flask, mix one liter each of solution A and solution B. This produces a fluorescent yellow mixture that you can see glow when the lights are turned off.
To get a brighter glow, you can pour potassium ferricyanide crystals into the solution. They should glow on the way down.
The luminol demo has 2 solutions. Solution A is 0.1 g luminol, 5 mL 5% NaOH (sodium hydroxide) per liter water; solution B has 10 mL H2O2 (6% hydrogen peroxide) and 0.25 g potassium ferricyanide per liter. Should use equal amounts of A and B but it will glow if you use unequal amounts. The room has to be dark to really see it; bring white light sticks so you can see to pour. Should glow for a minute or two.
When glowing begins to fade, or if you want it brighter, you can sprinkle ferricyanide crystals into the solution. They should glow on the way down.
Bring a liter of each solution and a two-liter flask. Cap the flask and return to stockroom for disposal.
