Dr. Márta Rózsahegyi

Tools: two 150-200 ml beakers, chemical spoon or spatula, 100 ml beaker

Chemicals: 10 ml sol. of NaClO, solid NaOH, a small grain luminol

Experiment
A and B solution was made up. A solution : 100 ml sol. of NaClO was added to 90 ml distilled water. B solution 3-4 pastilles of NaOH and luminol were dissolved in 100 ml distilled water. A and B solution were mixed up in the dark. Solution was given blue light.

Explanation
Luminol was oxidized by sol. of NaClO in basic solution. Energy arising from reaction appears as light. The light of glow-worm is caused by this reaction. Bioluminescence reactions are catalysed by enzymes like luciferase.

Note: Luminol can be oxidized by H₂O₂, too.
Sol. of NaClO is called "hypo" and it is used for disinfection in Hungary.