Glossary and Test Yourself

Glossary       

Chemiluminescence - a process in which energy in the form of light is released from matter during a chemical reaction.

Colour Centre - a combination of impurities and crystal defects causing the colour of a structure.

Crystal Defects - anomalies within a crystal structure e.g. a vacancy in a lattice.

Diamond - an allotrope of carbon consisting of a tetrahedron of pure carbon atoms.

Test Yourself                                                                                                   

1. What are the common crystal defects found in the diamond structure?        Answer

2. What leads to the blue colouration of diamonds?               Answer

3. How can you change the colour of a diamond?                Answer

4. What are the common chemicals used in light sticks?     Answer

5. What is the dye used to produce green light sticks?        Answer