Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Craig Milne on 13/12/2008 19:33:11

Title: How do glow in the dark toys work?
Post by: Craig Milne on 13/12/2008 19:33:11

Craig Milne asked the Naked Scientists:

How do some things such as toys glow in the dark?

What do you think?

Title: How do glow in the dark toys work?
Post by: chris on 19/12/2008 08:55:05

This luminescent effect is achieved with chemicals that can soak up energy, rather like a sponge soaks up water, and then release the energy slowly in the form of visible light. The first example of this was copper-doped zinc sulphide, discovered about 100 years ago. This absorbs energy of various sorts and then allows it to trickle out as visible (green) wavelengths.