The Chemistry of Mood Rings

IntroductionWouldn’t it be nice if everyone was required to wear a mood ring so you could tell what mood they were in before talking to them? I chose the chemistry of mood rings because I think they are interesting. Mood rings were invented in the 1970s and are still around today. A mood ring is a ring that changes color in response to the body temperature of the wearer.

Composition of ...

A liquid crystal compound is an organic material composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes nitrogen and other elements. The chemical in a mood ring is a liquid crystal, cholesteryl benzoate c34h50o2

Background Research

The mood ring was invented by Joshua Reynolds. The stone of a mood ring is really a hollow quartz or glass shell containing thermotropic liquid crystals.The crystals respond to changes in temperature by twisting. The twisting changes their molecular structure, which changes the colors that are absorbed or reflected, so when the temperature of the liquid crystals changes, so does the color.The amount of blood that reaches your skin depends on both the temperature and your mood, so there is scientific reasoning for the functioning of a mood ring. The colors below are the colors that appear on modern day mood rings.

  • Dark blue: Happy, romantic or passionate
  • Blue: Calm or relaxed
  • Blue-green: Somewhat relaxed
  • Green: Normal or average
  • Amber: A little nervous or anxious
  • Gray: Very nervous or anxious
  • Black: Stressed, tense or feeling harried
  • Black (Onyx)- Intense, Mysterious, Excited, Energetic, Stressed, Tensed, Angry, May Indicate The Mood Ring Is No Longer Working When It Stays This Way With No Change.
  • Brown (Enstatite)- Sometimes; Mixed Emotions, Random Thinking, Restless, Reflects Fidgetiness, Troubled, Worried, Fear
  • Orange-Red (Coral)- Emotions Mixed, Unsettled, Cool, Annoyed, Excited Moods, Agitated, Exasperated
  • Green (Emerald)- Average Reading, Active, Normal, No Great Stress, Happy, Amused, Involved, Sensitive
  • Blue-Green (Aquamarine)- Inner Emotions Charged, Somewhat Relaxed, Feeling Free, Flirtatious, Surprised, Puzzled, Highly Charged Emotions
  • Dark Blue (Dark Sapphire)- Very Happy, Pleasant Mood, Peaceful, Subdued, Completely Relaxed, Joyful, Passionate, Romantic
  • Purple (Amethyst)- Moody, Mischievous, Emotionally Excited, Transition Charged Emotions, Passionate, Romantic, In Love
  • Pink-Red (Rubellite)-In Love, Desirable, Hopeful, Aroused Mood,Rising Passions, Fascinated, Thrilled, Alarmed, Awe-Struck

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_ring

http://chemistry.about.com/od/jewelrychemistry/ss/Mood-Ring-Colors-And-Mood-Ring-Meanings.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermochromism

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholesteryl_benzoate

About the Author

Alex Harvey is a junior at Billings Senior High School. She is interested in learning the chemistry of a mood ring. Alex plays soccer and loves spending time with her friends and family.