It weighs about 30 grams. The casing is filled with reagents and contains one or two glass ampoules with active chemicals. A CLS starts glowing the moment all the chemical components of this chemi-luminescent system are mixed. For the reaction, one has to break the ampoules by bending the polyethylene casing. Through all this, the casing remains hermetically sealed.
CLSs are ecologically safe both before and after use.
While glowing, they do not heat up and give off no sparks. Therefore, unlike other light sources, they can neither set a fire nor explode in a dangerous medium containing very explosive mixtures of inflammable gas or fumes. Due to this as well as to their complete independence and suitability to be used anytime and anywhere, CLSs are irreplaceable in extreme situations. They can be widely used for carrying out mining and rescuing operations underground where there is a possible concentration of methane and other explosive gases. In industry and transport, CLSs are very useful for eliminating accidents caused by the discharge of gases and inflammable liquids.