Some nighttime partygoers wear glow-in-the-dark necklaces. The necklaces start glowing once they are “activated” by snapping the necklace in a way that allows two chemicals to react and emit light in the form of chemiluminescence. Is the chemical reaction exergonic or endergonic? Explain your answer.

When electrons are charged, they jump from their ground state to an electronic state in a chemical reaction. When these electrons return to their ground state, they emit energy in the form of light. This process is called chemiluminescence.

The biological version of chemiluminescence is bioluminescence. The single-celled marine organisms such as dinoflagellates exhibit bioluminescence. Bioluminescence results when the energy stored in organic molecules is converted into light.

The ability to do any task is called energy. When energy is released in the form of radiation, it is light energy. Light energy is the light that enables us to see.

A chemical reaction that occurs accompanied by the release of energy is called an exergonic reaction.

When two chemicals present in the glow-in-the-dark necklaces react with each other, they emit electromagnetic radiations that allow the necklace to glow in the dark. This means the chemical reaction is accompanied by the release of energy in the form of light.

Thus, the reaction that occurs in the glow-in-the-dark necklaces is an exergonic reaction.