10/07/2015 Chemical Education Journal(CEJ), Vol.13, No.2/Registration No.1322 http://chem.sci.utsunomiyau.ac.jp/v13n2/22ALP_Nery/ALPNery.html 1/12 Chemical Education Journal (CEJ), Vol. 13, No. 2 /Registration No. 1322 /Received October 3, 2009. URL = http://chem.sci.utsunomiyau.ac.jp/cejrnlE.html Fluorescence and Chemiluminescence: Teaching Basic Principles by Simple Demonstration Experiments Ana Luiza P. Nery 1 , Rodrigo M. Liegel 2 and Carmen Fernandez 3 [*] 1 Escola Vera Cruz; Rua Baumann, 73, Sao Paulo  SP, 05318000 Brazil. 2 Colegio Santa Cruz; Av. Arruda Botelho, 255, Sao Paulo  SP, 05466000 Brazil. 3 Instituto de Quimica, Universidade de Sao Paulo, 26077 Sao Paulo  SP, Brazil. email: carmen iq.usp.br Keywords: curriculum; demonstrations; excited states; luminescence; photochemistry; UVVis Spectroscopy Contents Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Materials and Equipment 3. Description of the Experiments a) Chlorophyll fluorescence b) Brown eggshell fluorescence c) Riboflavin (B2 vitamin) fluorescence d) Tonic water fluorescence e) Optical Whiteners f) Chemiluminescence: Light sticks emission g) Producing a light stick 4. Final Remarks 5. Safety 6. Acknowledgements 7. References Abstract The phenomenon of luminescence generated either by a chemical process (chemiluminescence) or by an external source of energy (fluorescence and phosphorescence) is an important analytical tool. Many biological substances emit characteristic fluorescence. Chlorophyll from leaves emits red fluorescence; protoporphyrin IX, found in the brown chicken eggshell and riboflavin (B2 vitamin) also exhibit characteristic fluorescence emission. Substances present in detergents (optical whiteners) are responsible for the fluorescence observed in white clothes from people dancing under black light.