Name: Fluorescence of Tonic Water
Ingredients: Tonic water glows because it contains quinine, a compound that fluoresces (glows) under ultraviolet (UV) light.; When UV light hits quinine, its molecules absorb invisible UV energy and re-emit it as visible blue light.; As an oxidizing agent, bleach can disrupt and break certain chemical bonds. The chemical bonds in quinine responsible for absorbing ultraviolet light are affected by bleach. Adding bleach to tonic water results in the alteration of these bonds, preventing quinine from absorbing ultraviolet light. Consequently, the quinine loses its ability to emit blue light.; Quinine is derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. The tree is native to the Andean forests of western South America and is now also cultivated in various tropical regions around the world. Quinine has been used for centuries by indigenous people in South America to treat fevers. Later, European colonizers learned about its use from the Quechua people in Peru. It became a key treatment for malaria, particularly during the colonial era. Quinine is known for its intensely bitter taste. In the 19th century, British colonials in India began mixing quinine with water, sugar, and gin to make tonic water. The addition of gin was to make the bitter medicine more palatable, leading to the creation of the classic gin and tonic!; Bleach is a strong chemical. Handle with adult supervision.; UV light can be harmful to eyes and skin. Never look directly into a UV lamp. Always turn on the UV light away from your face and keep it pointed down at the sample, not toward people. Wear UV-blocking safety glasses if available.

Fluorescence of Tonic Water

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Materials

Tonic water (Canada Dry or any brand that lists quinine as an ingredient)
Regular water
UV light
Bleach (a few drops; adult supervision required)
2 clear glasses or jars
Dropper or pipette

Instructions

Pour regular water into one clear glass and tonic water into another. Label them so you don’t mix them up!
In a dim room, shine the UV light on both glasses.
The regular water stays dark.
The tonic water glows bright blue!
Add one or two drops of bleach to the glowing tonic water. Stir gently. Watch as the blue glow fades and disappears.

What’s going on?

Tonic water glows because it contains quinine, a compound that fluoresces (glows) under ultraviolet (UV) light.
When UV light hits quinine, its molecules absorb invisible UV energy and re-emit it as visible blue light.
As an oxidizing agent, bleach can disrupt and break certain chemical bonds. The chemical bonds in quinine responsible for absorbing ultraviolet light are affected by bleach. Adding bleach to tonic water results in the alteration of these bonds, preventing quinine from absorbing ultraviolet light. Consequently, the quinine loses its ability to emit blue light.

Fun Fact!

Quinine is derived from the bark of the cinchona tree. The tree is native to the Andean forests of western South America and is now also cultivated in various tropical regions around the world. Quinine has been used for centuries by indigenous people in South America to treat fevers. Later, European colonizers learned about its use from the Quechua people in Peru. It became a key treatment for malaria, particularly during the colonial era. Quinine is known for its intensely bitter taste. In the 19th century, British colonials in India began mixing quinine with water, sugar, and gin to make tonic water. The addition of gin was to make the bitter medicine more palatable, leading to the creation of the classic gin and tonic!

Safety

Bleach is a strong chemical. Handle with adult supervision.
UV light can be harmful to eyes and skin. Never look directly into a UV lamp. Always turn on the UV light away from your face and keep it pointed down at the sample, not toward people. Wear UV-blocking safety glasses if available.

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Fluorescence of Tonic Water