Winter 2003 Chemical Reaction Engineering OEP

Go To: Poster Presentation, Examples of Brainstorming

Many chemical reactions produce both light and heat. A burning candle is such a reaction. When a candle is lit, its flame both glows and becomes hot. It is much less common for a chemical reaction to produce light without heat. The light from such reactions is called cool light, because it is created without heat. Reactions that produce light without heat are called chemiluminescent reactions. Perhaps the most familiar chemiluminescent reactions are those that occur in living organisms. Fireflies produce light without heat by a chemiluminescent reaction. Chemiluminescent reactions that occur in living organisms are called bioluminescent reactions.

In this activity you will examine a commercial chemiluminescent chemical reaction. This packet contains a Creative Thinking Component and a Technical Component.  Please complete the Creative Thinking Component and apply your results to the Technical Part.

Creative Thinking Component

One of the goals of this exercise is to give practice at increasing each members creative thinking skills. To this end you are asked to do the following.  

1)  Read the material from chapter 4 of Strategies for Creative Problem Solving. The book is listed in the syllabus and on reserve at the Media Union library.

2)  Use free association brainstorming to develop a list of things you can do with this packet.

3)  Increase your list by using Osborn’s check list.

4)  Increase your list even further by using Debono’s “Other peoples views” and “Random stimulation.”

Please note when you submit your list which ideas came from which category when you submit your report.

5)     Carry out the best experiments generated from your brainstorming exercise. However, for safety reasons we ask you discuss your planned experiment with your GSI before carrying them out

6)     Prepare a 2 page report and poster, and 2 copies of a 8 1/2 x 11 advertisement describing your results one of the 8 1/2x11 sheets should go on your poster board.  The poster presentation will be held on April 11^th.  

Be sure to relate your results to Chemical Reaction Engineering

I would prefer that you develop your own research plan or experiment that you will carry out.  However, you can also consider the hints shown in the Technical component.  Please email andy valiquett at avalique@engin.umich.edu before beginning your experiments.

Technical Component

1)      Describe the glowstick.  What does it look like?  What color is it?  How big is it?  Is anything inside the glowstick?

2)    Follow the directions to activate the lightstick.

a.   Bend the glowstick just enough to break the thin glass tube inside the glowstick.

b.   Shake the glowstick to mix its contents.

3)   Observe the lightstick in a darkened room.

4)   Describe the appearance of the glowstick.  What is the color of the glow?  Does it change intensity or color with time?  Does the glow come from the entire glowstick or just particular areas?

5)   Using your ideas from number 1, carry out some experiments with your glowsticks.

6)   Can you identify the reaction and reaction mechanism?

7)   Prepare a poster to describe your results.  Make your poster as creative and scientific as you can.

8)   Enclosed you will find 18 POST-IT notes (9 green and 9 yellow).  You will use these to vote for your classmates’ posters, on the following categories:

a.    Best science related to ChE 344 (green).

b.   Most creative display (yellow).

9)  To vote, you will place these on the posters of your choice.  You may not place them on your own poster.  The poster with the most POST-IT notes is the winner.

If you get stuck, below are some experiments you may want to try:

1. Immerse the glowstick in a glass of ice water.

Does chilling the glowstick affect its glow?  Describe the changes. 

How does duration in the ice bath affect its glow?

Using what you have learned in ChE 344, explain what is happening   here.

2. Immerse the glowstick in a glass of hot water.  (note: DO NOT USE BOILING WATER OR PLACE IN OVEN.  GLOWSTICK MAY MELT)

Does heating affect the glow?  Describe the changes

How does duration in the hot water affect its glow?

Using what you have learned in ChE 344, explain what is happening here.

3. Place the glowstick in the freezer for 24 hours.

Does the glowstick continue to glow while in the freezer?

Remove the glowstick from the freezer.  Does it continue to glow?

Explain what is happening.

4. Summarize the effect of temperature on the glow of the glowstick.