Why uranium glass glows green if it's under UV light?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the phenomenon of uranium glass glowing green under UV light, exploring the underlying mechanisms and components involved in this fluorescence. Participants seek to understand the transitions that convert UV light into visible green light, with a focus on the chemical and electronic structures involved.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the reason for the green glow of uranium glass under UV light, noting that higher uranium oxide content may increase the intensity of the glow.
  • Another participant identifies the phenomenon as fluorescence.
  • A different participant elaborates that the fluorescence is associated with the Uranyl cation UO2+, comparing it to the fluorescence of fluorescein found in bath soaps.
  • A participant reformulates the question to seek a deeper understanding of the specific transitions that convert UV light into green light in uranium glass.
  • One participant suggests that fluorescence typically involves transitions from the first excited singlet state to the ground state, and mentions the possibility of a charge transfer transition, providing a link to an article discussing relevant electronic structures.
  • Another participant expresses gratitude for the information shared in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to agree on the general concept of fluorescence being responsible for the green glow, but there are varying levels of detail and understanding regarding the specific mechanisms and transitions involved. The discussion remains open with no consensus reached on the exact processes.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the electronic transitions and the specific roles of different components in uranium glass remain unresolved. The discussion references external sources for further information but does not clarify all mathematical or technical details.

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Hello

Why the uranium glass glows green if it's under UV light?

The most accurate thing I have found it's a brief history of uranium glass: somewhere it's said the more uranium oxide you put in the glass, the more intense will be the green light when exposed to UV light.

Thank you for your time.

Greetings.
 
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Fluorescence.
 
This is called "fluorescence" and is due to the Uranyl cation UO#_2^+##. Maybe best known is the fluorescence of fluorescein, which is contained e.g. in bath soaps.
 
Hello

Thank you for your answers.

My mistake, I will reformulate the question (for a deeper answer) which transitions (of which components) converts UV into green light in the uranium glass?

Thank you for your time.

Greetings.
 
Fluorescence is usually observed for the first excited singlet to ground state transition. May be a charge transfer transition.
Edit: Here is an article which contains information on the relevant electronic structures:
http://doc.sciencenet.cn/upload/file/20113421491684.pdf
The optical spectra are in deed due to electronic transfer of electrons located in p-orbitals on Oxygen to non-bonding f-orbitals on Uranium.
 
Last edited:
Thank you very much! :D

Greetings!
 

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