The Secret of the Glowing Flowers

September 30, 2024 / DIY / STEM Activities / Chemistry / Ages 3 - 5 / Glowing Flower

Have you ever seen flowers that glow in the dark? This experiment will take you into a mysterious fluorescent world! You'll transform into a "flower magician", using an ordinary highlighter to turn a plain white flower into a glowing miracle of the night!

Age: 3-5
Time: Less than 30 minutes
Mess Level: Messy

Materials Needed:

White flowers (such as carnations or chrysanthemums)
Scissors
Cup
Highlighter
Water
Ultraviolet lamp (black light)

Arranged on a pale blue surface are several items, suggesting preparation for a floral experiment or craft project. These include a clear plastic jug containing water, a smaller clear plastic cup, a lime green highlighter pen, a single white rose, and a small bunch of white chrysanthemum flowers. The items are neatly spaced and well-lit, creating a clean and organised aesthetic. The overall impression is one of readiness for a creative or scientific endeavour involving flowers and possibly fluorescent materials.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Take apart the highlighter and remove the fluorescent core. Soak the core in a small amount of water, gently squeezing it to dissolve the fluorescent pigment in the water. You'll end up with fluorescent-coloured water.

A hand holds a bright green highlighter pen above a clear plastic cup containing a pale yellow liquid. The highlighter is positioned as if its tip is about to be submerged in the liquid, suggesting the process of adding colour. The cup sits on a pale blue surface against a blurred, off-white background. The image is simple and clean, focusing on the action of adding the highlighter to the liquid, possibly for a science experiment or craft project.

Use scissors to cut the stem of the white flower at an angle to increase the water absorption area. Place the cut flower into the cup containing the fluorescent water, ensuring the stem is fully immersed. Let the flower sit for a few hours or overnight to allow the fluorescent liquid to be absorbed into the petals through capillary action.

A small bunch of white chrysanthemum flowers stands in a clear plastic cup partially filled with bright green liquid. The stems are submerged in the liquid, and the flowers lean slightly to one side. The cup rests on a pale blue surface against a blurred, off-white background. The image is simple and clean, suggesting a science experiment or a craft project involving the absorption of coloured liquid by flowers.

Prepare the ultraviolet lamp and point it at the flower. You'll see the petals emit a bright fluorescent effect under the UV light.

A single white flower, possibly a chrysanthemum, is dramatically illuminated in a vibrant, almost electric green hue. The flower is sharply in focus, its delicate petals clearly visible, whilst the background is shrouded in deep darkness, enhancing the luminescence. Other blurred flowers are visible in the background, also glowing green, but less distinctly. The image evokes a sense of mystery and otherworldliness, suggesting a magical or fantastical element.

The Science Behind It:

The principle of the glowing flower is based on capillary action and the absorption of fluorescent substances. In this experiment, the flower absorbs water containing fluorescent pigments through its stem, transporting the fluorescent substance to the petals. Fluorescent substances have the property of emitting light under ultraviolet light. When illuminated by the UV lamp, the fluorescent pigments in the petals will emit a bright glow.

Try using highlighters of different colours to see if they produce different glowing effects!

The Secret of the Glowing Flowers

Materials Needed:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

The Science Behind It:

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