Chemical lightsticks glow by way of two chemicals; cyalume and
hydrogen peroxide. Inside the glowstick is a thin glass tube;
inside of that is a chemical known as hydrogen peroxide. Outside of
this tube, there is a chemical known as cyalume. When a glowstick
is "cracked", the glass tube is broken, and when a glowstick is
shaken the two chemicals mix together. These chemicals also
activate a die of whatever colour the glowstick may be (pink,
white, orange, green, red, etc.), causing the stick to "glow".