Introduction: UV Project.
List of Things That Glow Under a Black Light
tonic water (quinine) – glows blue
some vitamins and drugs – B12 glows bright yellow
chlorophyll – glows redscorpions – glow blue or green
Scorpions Glow Under Ultraviolet Light
glow in the dark paint
peoples teeth – usually glow white under black light
antifreeze
fluorescent minerals – glow various colors
about 1/4 of diamonds – glow various colors under black light
some body fluids
fluorescent dyes
bank notes – green strips in US currency
laundry detergent
Irish Spring soap – green
Mr. Clean liquid cleaner
banana spotsBanana Spots Glow Under Black Light (endolith)
some toys
most types of fishing line
some plastics
white paper – white or blue-whitepassports
some cosmetics
some animals, plants, and fungi (especially marine life) – usually green or blue
petroleum jelly (e.g.,Vaseline) – glows blue
uranium glass or vaseline glass
rock salt
fungus that causes Athlete’s Foot – glows orange
turmeric (a spice)
olive oil
canola oil
some flowers
certain postage stamps
highlighter pens – variety of colors
honey
ketchup
cotton balls
pipe cleaners – usually glow blue-white, although fluorescent ones can glow other colors
Click View All Steps to see how to create UV Blacklight initials.
Step 1: Other Things That Glow Under UV Blacklight
Here are some things that glow under UV Black Light.
Not all substances can fluoresce. Fluorescent substances usually have highly rigid molecular structures with electrons that are delocalized over the entire framework of the molecule. Examples of common materials that contain fluorescent molecules are:
White paper is treated with fluorescent compounds to make it appear brighter. Historical documents that have been forged can sometimes be detected by placing them under a black light to see if they fluoresce; fluorescers have only been used in paper made after about 1950 [1].
Club soda or tonic water contains quinine, a bitter-tasting fluorescent compound that glows blue-white under a black light.
Vitamins (specifically vitamin A, thiamine, niacin, and riboflavin) fluoresce strongly. A small piece of a vitamin B-12 tablet crushed and dissolved in vinegar glows a bright yellow under UV light.
Chlorophyll fluoresces with a blood red color. Grind spinach or swiss chard with ethanol and filter the resulting chlorophyll extract. Bright white light can be used to drive the fluorescence. Place the extract in a petri dish on top of an overhead projector lamp in a darkened room to get the full effect.
Many biological fluids contain fluorescent molecules. Forensic scientists use UV lights on crime scenes to detect fluorescence from blood, urine, or semen. Some marine organisms (notably jellyfish) produce proteins that are very intensely fluorescent.
Antifreeze fluid contains additives that fluoresce. Investigators sometimes use black lights to look for antifreeze splashes on pavement and vehicles to reconstruct automobile accident scenes [2].
Laundry detergents contain fluorescers to make the whites "whiter than white". Detergent residues on white clothing causes it to glow blue-white under a black light. These fluorescers sometimes make white clothing appear blue in color photographs.
Dental enamel and whiteners also contain fluorescent compounds that fill in the blue part of the spectrum to prevent the enamel from appearing too yellow [3].
Postage stamps are printed with inks that contain fluorescent dyes.Some common minerals and gemstones fluoresce, including gypsum, talc, opal, agate, quartz, and amber. For a complete list see Amethyst Galleries' Fluorescent, Phosphorescent, Thermoluminescent and Triboluminescent Minerals page.
Step 2: UV Blacklight Invisible Ink Initials.
Need:
UV light
Highlighter, preferably green, yellow or orange
Scotch tape, works the best
Clean wall
My email is iandrewalvis@gmail.com so if you finish this project send me a picture and I will post it on instructables. Leave a comment below if you like the idea or if you have any suggestions. I could use some suggestions or ideas.
Step 3: Getting Started
You need scotch tape preferably not the clear kind. Your going to need to put tape on the wall in the shape of your initials. It can be simple lines that spell out your 3 initials or something fancy.Your initials shouldn't be more than 1 or 2 inches thick. Be creative. It should look like what I did above. The above picture is what it should look like after it was colored.
Step 4: Coloring in the Tape
Get a green, yellow or orange highlighter. Color lightly only on the tape that you put on the wall; try not to get any on the wall or it will ruin the project. Stop highlighting the tape when it is completely filled in with highlighter.
Step 5: Wipe the Wall With Your Hand
Once all the other steps are finished take your hand and wipe it along the tape spreading the highlighter onto the wall. Rub it until you can't see anymore highlighter on the tape or the wall. Get all of it off by using a single finger and rub along the tape while applying pressure. Try to spread it out across the wall farther for cooler effect. Make sure to spread it evenly over a small radius.
Step 6: Let It Dry
Once the tape is colored in all the way let it sit for about 2-3 minutes. This is the most crucial part do not let it sit for more than 6 minutes or it will be ruined.
Step 7: Peel the Tape Off Carefully
Once you've rubbed all the highlighter off, slowly peel the tape off. If you don't do it slowly you might damage the wall and ruin the project.
Step 8: Fun Time
When you can no longer see the highlighter stop. Turn out the lights and turn on the UV light toward the project and enjoy. The good thing is it is completely invisible even to bright light. If you finish this project, send me a picture of it to iandrewalvis@gmail.com and I will post it on this instructable.
8 Comments
5 years ago
You're welcome.
5 years ago
Thank you so much.
5 years ago
Okay your going to need to get a magic eraser. It HAS to be a magic eraser. Wet it with water then ring it out. Take the corner of the magic eraser and very carefully rub the messed up highlighter off. Don't let the water drip down the wall so use a paper towel to dab the wall free of water. Let it dry for about ten minutes the reapply tape to the design you made and color on the tape around the area you cleaned up. Redo steps 2,3 and 4. If it doesn't satisfy you completely clean the wall and redo the whole project.
5 years ago
I messed up on step 2. The highlighter got onto the wall because my hand sipped and now I can't get it off. What do I do?
5 years ago on Step 4
You're welcome. Ill keep in touch with you. I'll accept that picture whenever you can send it to me.
5 years ago on Step 4
I love the idea. Experimenting with the colors was really fun. I can't send you a picture yet because I don't have a camera yet. I have added you on email so we can keep in touch
5 years ago on Step 4
Very cool idea. Thanks!
Reply 5 years ago on Step 4
You are welcome. If you finish send me a picture and Ill post it on the steps.