Advertisement

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCES TO C&EN

Photonics

Chemistry In Pictures

Chemistry in Pictures: Raise a glass to fluorescence

by Manny Morone
June 12, 2018

 

A pint glass with chemical structures of water, ethanol, humulene, and other beer compounds fluoresces sky blue under an ultraviolet lamp.
Credit: Brian Wagner/UPEI

Chemists love their glassware, and the University of Prince Edward Island’s Brian Wagner is no exception. His favorite pint glass shows off structures of the most common compounds found in beer: ethanol, water, fructose, glucose, maltose, and flavor compounds from hops, such as cis-isohumulone (top left of the glass), humulene (center of glass), and myrcene. Wagner was pleasantly surprised when he noticed that the glass is also fluorescent under ultraviolet light. The glass glows blue because the manufacturers added metal oxides to the glass mix, which allow them to change a variety of the glass’s material properties. How did Wagner discover its blue glow? “I have a portable, battery-powered UV-A lamp, so yes, I do go around checking things out for fluorescence, in fact!” Wagner says.

Submitted by Brian Wagner. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter and Instagram to see more fluorescence of everyday things.


Do science. Take pictures. Win money. Enter our photo contest here.


Related C&EN Content:

Chemistry in Pictures: Fluorescence of everyday objects

Chemistry in Pictures: Water it down, turn it up

Chemistry in Pictures: Happy little plant cells.

CORRECTION:

This post was updated on June 14, 2018 to reflect the fact that several metal oxides can give glass blue fluorescence, not just lead(II) oxide as was previously stated.

Article:

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

0 /1 FREE ARTICLES LEFT THIS MONTH Remaining
Chemistry matters. Join us to get the news you need.