Do you have any predictions? With three bottles of water, one bottle filled with water mixed with highlighter dye, one bottle filled with tonic water, and one bottle filled with regular tap water, which ones do you think will glow?
Borrow a black light, get your supplies together, and give this simple and fun science experiment a try! We have a supplies list, printable instructions as well as a demonstration video with experiment explanation below. Explore phosphors and have fun while learning!
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Supplies Needed
- 3 Empty Bottles or Drinking Glasses
- Highlighter
- Tonic Water
- Water
- Black light
Glowing Water Science Lab Kit – Only $5
Use our easy Glowing Water Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!
It’s everything you need to make science easy for teachers and fun for students — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!
Glowing Water Science Experiment Instructions
Step 1 – Prepare the water for the first bottle. To do so, pull the back off a highlighter and drop the ink into a cup of water. Set aside.
Step 2 – Prepare the water for the second bottle. Do this by filling the second bottle with tonic water.
Helpful Tip: If you buy tonic water that is already is a clear glass jar, you can just use that.
Step 3 – Prepare the water for the third bottle. Do this by filling the third bottle with regular tap water.
Step 4 – Take the water with the highlighter ink in it that you prepared in step one. Sir the water to mix in the ink and then pour it into the first bottle.
Step 5 – Position the black light behind the bottles.
Step 6 – Turn on the black light and observe the three bottles. Do any of them glow? Do you know why? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below.
Video Tutorial
Glowing Water Science Experiment Step by Step Instructional Video
How Does the Science Experiment Work
The bottle with regular tap water does not glow when placed near a black light.
The bottle with water and highlighter dye and the bottle with tonic water do glow when placed near a black light. This is because highlighter dye and a chemical found in tonic water called quinine contain something called phosphors. Phosphors are substances that emit light (or luminesce) when exposed to radiation like UV light. When you shine a UV light on phosphors, the phosphors become “excited” and glow. Your teeth and fingernails also contain phosphors so they will also glow in UV light!
Glowing Water Science Lab Kit – Only $5
Use our easy Glowing Water Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!
It’s everything you need to make science easy for teachers and fun for students — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!
I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:
Glowing Water Science Experiment
Materials
- 3 Empty Bottles or Drinking Glasses
- Highlighter
- Tonic Water
- Water
- Black light
Instructions
- Prepare the water for the first bottle. To do so, pull the back off a highlighter and drop the ink into a cup of water. Set aside
- Prepare the water for the second bottle. Do this by filling the second bottle with tonic water. Tip: If you buy tonic water that is already is a clear glass jar, you can just use that.
- Prepare the water for the third bottle. Do this by filling the third bottle with regular tap water.
- Take the water with the highlighter ink in it that you prepared in step one. Sir the water to mix in the ink and then pour it into the first bottle.
- Position the black light behind the bottles.
- Turn on the black light and observe the three bottles. Do any of them glow? Do you know why?
where do you get tonic water besides online
At the store
A liquor store
HEB or any grocery store near beer/ liquor isle.
In wallmart
I all was get my tonic water at wallmart.
Where do you get a black light and tonic water instead online? I love how you did it! Next year, for my science project I will do it.
Both at Walmart
My daughter did this experiment at school, yesterday. It was a big hit. I’d add the pic the teacher sent, if I knew how.
Where do you get a black light and tonic water instead online?I love how you did it!Next year,for my science project I will do it.
cool experiment
My friend and I are doing this experiment for our science fair project we just found it online. We cannot wait to do it!!! This is the first time we ever choose this!!!!
I like this and I will do it for my 4th grade science project instead of forming neurons for a robot.