Photochemical Reaction of Hydrogen and Chlorine

Different colors of LED light illuminate a small corked test tube of hydrogen and chlorine gas with no reaction; ultraviolet light causes an explosion that shoots the cork across the room. The gas mixture is made by the electrolysis of hydrochloric acid 8M. A water bath allows for filling the tubes under water. The tubes are quartz.

References
Richard Schwenz and Lynn Geiger. "Photon-Initiated Hydrogen-Chlorine Reaction." Journal of Chemical Education 76.4 (1999): 470.

Shakhashiri, Bassam Z. "Chemical Demonstrations: A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry." Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 1983. ( http://books.google.com/books?id=0rx6...)