With just a few simple ingredients, you can make a liquid that glows when exposed to black UV light. Some of the methods in this article produce a liquid that glows in the dark to create a glow stick or glowing water, while some of the other methods are safe to use for making bathroom water glow. One of the methods discussed even teaches you to make a cake glaze that's both safe to eat and glow in the dark!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using the Highlight Pen to Make Water Glow
Step 1. Fill a container with two cups of hot water
For the best effect, choose a transparent glass, bowl, or bottle.
You can adjust the amount of water, but this will affect the intensity of the light the water produces. More water will dissolve the effect of the light produced, while less water will make the light more intense
Step 2. Wear rubber or latex gloves to remove the ink cartridge inside the yellow highlight pen
Pry the bottom of the highlight pen; You may need to use a knife or nose hair tweezers to open it. Once the highlight pen is open, you can remove the ink cartridge inside.
- Gloves will protect your hands from ink stains.
- Not all highlight pens can be used. Even if you've tested with a black light and the pen's ink appears to glow when you write, the substance in it may no longer work once it's exposed to water. We recommend using a standard yellow highlight pen.
Step 3. Place the ink cartridge in a glass of hot water and let it sit
The ink will start mixing with the water in just a few minutes. If left for a few hours, the water will glow very brightly.
- Use your gloved hand to twist and squeeze the ink so that it drips from the tube when you're done.
- When the ink cartridge appears white, most of the ink in it has mixed with the water.
Step 4. Turn on the black light and make the bottle glow
Water will only glow when exposed to a black light. Black lamps and black light-emitting bulbs can be found at many party supply stores, lighting stores, or online stores.
Method 2 of 4: Using Tonic Water and Jell-O to Cook Fluorescent Cakes
Step 1. Cook the cake as usual and refrigerate until quite firm
If you want to add glaze to a cake, you will need to bake, arrange, and frost the cake. The same goes for cupcakes. If you want to glaze a cookie, just follow the original recipe and let the cake cool before applying the glaze.
If you are adding glaze to frosting, it is very important to let the frosting cool and harden first. Glaze can soften or make the frosting too runny if it's not soft enough
Step 2. Pour one 300 gram package of Jell-O into a bowl and add one cup of boiling water
Even if you are free to experiment with different flavors and colors, green Jell-O (lime flavor) is the most effective and brightest.
Stir the mixture for a minute or until it mixes well with the hot water
Step 3. Add one cup of cold tonic water and stir constantly
Tonic water contains an ingredient called quinine which gives it a bitter taste. Quinine will respond to UV light and give off a whitish blue color.
For a more intense glow, you can incorporate tonic water into your cooked cake recipe. Try to add five tablespoons of tonic water to the frosting mixture, then use it as a topping for sponge cakes or cupcakes
Step 4. Let the dough cool, but not harden
The dough shouldn't be hot to the touch as it can melt the frosting, but it shouldn't be too cold to harden the texture. Wait until you can touch the dough before using it as a glaze.
You can use ice water to speed up this process, but be careful not to let the dough get too cold and harden
Step 5. Spread the glaze over the frosting
Use a pastry brush to rub the mixture over your sponge or cupcakes. If the frosting is frozen, you can even hold the cupcake upside down and dip it into the bowl.
Don't drip the glaze mixture onto the top of the cake, but focus on the decoration. Let the remaining glaze drip off until clean
Step 6. Repeat the above process six times and place the cake in the freezer after each glazing
To keep the frosting firm, you'll need to put the sponge or cupcakes back in the freezer to make sure they don't turn soft or melt.
- Six layers of glaze should be enough for the entire cake (without the residue) and enough to produce the desired glow effect.
- Once all the layers are done, place the cake in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to allow the glaze to dry.
Step 7. Serve the cake under black light
To amplify the effect, you need to use some black lights and place the cake as close to the lights as possible. Green glaze can make the cake glow slightly green (especially if you're using white frosting).
Your frosting will probably taste a little like lime or tonic. Add flavoring to the frosting, such as vanilla or almonds to cover the lime flavor and tonic, if desired
Method 3 of 4: Using Vitamins to Make Water Fluorescent
Step 1. Purchase a vitamin that contains a molecule that can fluoresce
Vitamin A, thiamine (vitamin B), niacin, and riboflavin can fluoresce intensely and give off a bright yellow glow. Most people choose B complex vitamins that contain a lot of thiamine and a variety of B vitamins (look for products containing vitamin B complex 50 or similar).
Step 2. Put two vitamin pills in a special sealable freezer bag and crush them with a kitchen hammer
Mash the vitamins into a fine powder with a kitchen hammer or other heavy object, such as a rolling pin or unopened wine bottle.
The bag will keep the vitamin powder from getting scattered. Be careful that your impact may result in a slight tear in the bag
Step 3. Pour the crushed vitamins into a container of warm water, about two cups
Stir the powder until it dissolves in the water. Even if this solution is non-toxic, you should not drink it.
Step 4. Put a cup of vitamin solution in warm water for a bath and use a black light to turn it on
The phosphorescent molecules in vitamins don't glow in the dark, but can glow when exposed to a black light.
Be careful when using black lights around water. Keep the lamp at a safe distance from the lamp so that it does not fall into it
Method 4 of 4: Using Fluorescent Paint to Make Water Glow Colorfully
Step 1. Purchase a glow-in-the-dark or glow-in-the-dark paint from a craft store
If you want to make water that produces multiple colors (instead of the yellow produced by the previous methods), buy paint of the color you want. Try using blue, red, and yellow so you can mix them up to make more colors.
- Paint that glows in the dark glows even when there is no black light – it glows when exposed to ordinary light. Fluorescent paint will only respond to UV light emitted by black light.
- Look for paints that are specially designed for children and are 100% toxic free.
Step 2. Prepare containers in different colors and fill each with hot water
Using a transparent glass or bottle will make the lit water appear brighter and clearer.
Using hot water will dissolve the paint faster so you can get a faster result
Step 3. Add a little paint to the water and stir
There is no fixed amount of paint to use – just add a little and add more if needed. Stir the paint until it mixes with the water.
Step 4. Turn on the light and turn on the black light if you are using fluorescent paint
If you're using a paint that glows in the dark, check the instructions for use to find out how to "charge" the paint so it glows. Fluorescent paint will only glow if you have a black light.
Enjoy painting with these colors and mixing water to make stone colors or make other crafts
Step 5. Done
Warning
- The ink from the fluorescent yellow marker will stain anything it touches. Be careful and keep the object away from clothing and other surfaces. The material is not toxic or harmful to humans, but not for consumption.
- Do not drink any liquid that glows in the dark.
