The rate of the sonochemiluminescence reaction of luminol
in alkaline
medium can be increased in the presence of carbon tetrachloride, chloroform,
and bromoform. The presence of the latter activators enhances the
light emission, to allow studying the kinetics of this reaction in
a 4-h laboratory session using a mobile phone camera as a detector
device. This experimental approach can be used to introduce sonochemistry
to undergraduate students using an inexpensive setup. Finally, these
experiments can be used by the students to analyze complex chemical
reactions from the point of view of the thermodynamics, chemical kinetics,
and reaction mechanism.