Under an ultraviolet 'black light,' the quinine in tonic water makes the water fluoresce a brilliant, bright blue (even though only a relatively small amount of quinine is dissolved in the water). Quinine not only gives tonic water a characteristic bitter taste (which is offset today by the addition of sweeteners to bottled tonic water) but this chemical can also be very fluorescent under the right conditions. Quinine is made from the bark of a tree and has been used for centuries as a treatment for malaria. Tonic water is a carbonated beverage that has a chemical called quinine dissolved in it. How will adding bleach affect the tonic water’s glow? Try this activity to find out!

In this activity you'll make tonic water glow by using a black light and then you'll add a little bleach to the water. Have you ever wondered how glow-in-the-dark things work? It can be a lot of fun to play with bracelets, wands and other toys that are glow-in-the-dark! Did you ever imagine that you could make something at home that glows? It turns out that it's not that hard to do-all you need is tonic water and a black light! Some common household chemicals can also affect this beverage's glow.

Tonic water black light