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chemiluminescence
[ kem-uh-loo-muh-nes-uhns ]
noun
- (in chemical reactions) the emission of light by an atom or molecule that is in an excited state.
chemiluminescence
/ ˌkɛmɪˌluːmɪˈnɛsəns /
noun
- the phenomenon in which a chemical reaction leads to the emission of light without incandescence
chemiluminescence
/ kĕm′ə-lo̅o̅′mə-nĕs′əns /
- The emission of light by a substance as a result of undergoing a chemical reaction that does not involve an increase in its temperature. Chemiluminescence usually occurs when a highly oxidized molecule, such as a peroxide, reacts with another molecule. The bond between the two oxygen atoms in a peroxide is relatively weak, and when it breaks the atoms must reorganize themselves, releasing energy in the form of light.
- Compare bioluminescence
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Derived Forms
- ˌchemiˌlumiˈnescent, adjective
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Other Words From
- chemi·lumi·nescent adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of chemiluminescence1
First recorded in 1900–05; chemi- + luminescence
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Example Sentences
Moreover, as we have seen, chemiluminescence is essentially an oxyluminescence, since oxygen is necessary for the reaction.
From Project Gutenberg
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