How To: Make green luminescent phosphorescent glow powder

Make green luminescent phosphorescent glow powder

It's a stormy winter night, and you're electricity goes out. You could grab some candles to add a little light to your life, or you could use glow-in-the-dark chemicals for a cool luminescent.

Watch this science video tutorial from Nurd Rage on how to make a luminescent, phosphorescent glow powder with Dr. Lithium.

Phosphorescent glow-in-the-dark powder is also known as simply luminescent or photoluminescence.

Warning: This experiment uses mildly toxic chemicals, wear gloves when handling them. In addition, the combustion reaction must be performed outside or in a fume-hood due to the resulting smoke and gasses.

You will need:

*Strontium Nitrate, as seen in "How to make strontium nitrate".
*Aluminum Nitrate, as seen in "How to make aluminum nitrate nonahydrate".
*Purification by recrystallization, as seen in "How to purify aluminum nitrate by recrystallization".
*Europium and dysprosium nitrates, as seen in "How to make europium and dysprosium nitrate salts".
*Nitric Acid to make the above Nitrates, as seen in "How to make nitric acid".

The procedure is relatively straightforward: 1.875g of aluminum nitrate nonahydrate with 530mg of strontium nitrate, 10.7mg of europium nitrate pentahydrate, 21.9mg of dysprosium nitrate pentahydrate and 30.9mg of boric acid are dissolved in 3mL of distilled water. 3.9g of pure urea is added and shaken until dissolved. The mixture is heated in a 1000-watt microwave for 4 minutes. Eventually it'll ignite and combust. The white "ash" is the glow powder.

Brought to you by one of WonderHowTo's favorite scientists, NurdRage.

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2 Comments

Hello Dr. Lithium.
I am very interested in your work, WOW you doing a awesome job.

Please I got an important inquiry. If I don't have the MICROWAVE to ignite and combust the mixture, please let me know how can I ignite and combust the mixture without microwave??? in details please.

Thanks

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