Question

In science class, Blaine’s teacher puts one glow stick in a cup of hot water and another glow stick in a cup of cold water. She asks the students to think about how the temperature of the water will affect the chemical reaction that occurs inside the glow stick once it is bent and starts to glow.

Which glow stick will be brighter once it is bent? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

It will shine brighter in the hot water because molecules move faster with heat, which is why cold water would inhibit the glowstick's ability to shine. 

Answer 2

The glow stick that was in the cup of hot water will be brighter once it is bent. The production of more light is evidence that the chemical reaction in the glow stick is happening faster. The reaction happens faster, because increasing the temperature increases the rate of a chemical reaction.