Science, Tech, Math › Science How Do Mood Rings Work? Thermochromic Liquid Crystals and Mood Rings Print Modern mood rings are acrylic gems coated on the back with a layer of thermochromic liquid crystals. taryn/Getty Images Science Chemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on May 06, 2019 The mood ring was invented by Joshua Reynolds. Mood rings enjoyed fad popularity in the 1970s and are still around today. The stone of the ring changes color, supposedly according to the mood or emotional state of the wearer. The 'stone' of a mood ring is really a hollow quartz or glass shell containing thermotropic liquid crystals. Modern mood jewelry is usually made from a flat strip of liquid crystals with a protective coating. The crystals respond to changes in temperature by twisting. The twisting changes their molecular structure, which alters the wavelengths of light that are absorbed or reflected. 'Wavelengths of light' is another way of saying 'color', so when the temperature of the liquid crystals changes, so does their color. Read More How Do Mood Rings Work? By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Do Mood Rings Work? Mood rings can't tell your emotional state with any degree of accuracy, but the crystals are calibrated to have a pleasing blue or green color at the average person's normal resting peripheral temperature of 82 F (28 C). As peripheral body temperature increases, which it does in response to passion and happiness, the crystals twist to reflect blue. When you are excited or stressed, blood flow is directed away from the skin and more toward the internal organs, cooling the fingers, causing the crystals to twist the other direction, to reflect more yellow. In cold weather, or if the ring was damaged, the stone would be dark gray or black and unresponsive. What the Mood Ring Colors Mean The top of the list is the warmest temperature, at violet, moving to the coolest temperature, at black. violet blue - happy, romanticblue - calm, relaxedgreen - average, not much going on with youyellow/amber - tense, excitedbrown/gray - nervous, anxiousblack - cold temperature or damaged ring Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How Do Mood Rings Work?" ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/how-do-mood-rings-work-604307. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2023, April 5). How Do Mood Rings Work? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-do-mood-rings-work-604307 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How Do Mood Rings Work?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-do-mood-rings-work-604307 (accessed April 23, 2024). copy citation