The Nature of Animal LightHarvey, E. Newton (Edmund Newton)
Science
The Nature of Animal Light
Harvey, E. Newton (Edmund Newton)
Phosphorescence
CRYSTALLOLUMINESCENCE.--Crystalloluminescence is observed when solutions
crystallize. It was described by Bandrowski (1894, 1895) in arsenious
oxide, in NaF, or if HCl or alcohol is added to hot saturated NaCl
solution. A bluish light with sparkling points appeared. All well
authenticated cases are exhibited by simple inorganic salts and these
are also all triboluminescent. The reverse is not true, however; many
triboluminescent substances are not crystalloluminescent.
Crystalloluminescence is much less widespread than triboluminescence.
Trautz (1905) has studied the matter in a number of compounds and comes
to the conclusion that the light is really a special case of
triboluminescence in which the growth of individual crystals causes them
to rub together. The light becomes much brighter on stirring a mass of
crystals which exhibit crystalloluminescence. While in some cases
crystalloluminescence is unquestionably due to the triboluminescence of
crystals rubbing against each other it is not in every case, as has been
clearly shown by the work of Weiser (1918 _b_). He studied luminescence
of saturated aqueous alkali halide solutions (NaCl, KCl, etc.,) upon
addition of alcohol or of HCl. The salt crystallizes out under these
conditions and Weiser found that the light is brightest when the
conditions of concentration of alcohol or of HCl are such as to cause
heaping up of Na and Cl ions. He believes that the bluish light which
appears is due to the combination of ions in the reaction, Na^+ + Cl^- =
NaCl. Only if this proceeds rapidly enough does luminescence occur.
Weiser studied also the crystalloluminescence and triboluminescence of
AsCl_{3} and of K_{2}SO_{4}. By photographing the luminescence through
color screens of different absorptive power (Weiser, 1918, _a_) a
spectrum of the light could be obtained, and it was found to be
identical in both the tribo- and crystalloluminescent light; in the case
of AsCl_{3}, a band in the green-blue, blue and violet. Weiser believes
the light in this case also to come from recombination of the ions,
As^{+++} + 3Cl^- = AsCl_{3}, and that crystalloluminescence in general
is due to rapid reformation of molecules from ions broken up by
electrolytic dissociation while triboluminescence is due to rapid
reformation of molecules from ions broken up by violent disruption of
the crystal. Of course in triboluminescent organic crystals which do not
dissociate into ions, some other reaction must be responsible for the
light. One thing seems certain, that the two types of luminescence are
similar. As Bigelow[1] remarks, "It is altogether probable that the
cause of this" (crystalloluminescence) "whatever it may be, is the same
as the cause of triboluminescence, whatever that may be."
[1] Theoretical and Physical Chemistry, 1912, p. 516.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account