Ionized Gases: Do Any Exist or Can They Be Made?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence of ionized gases, their natural occurrence, and the methods of creating them without heating. Participants explore the concept of ionized gases in various contexts, including natural phenomena and human-induced processes.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that ionized gases do exist, citing examples like flames and conduction electron gases in conductors.
  • Others argue that ionization can occur through methods other than heating, such as electron or proton bombardment and strong electrical discharges.
  • A participant questions whether ionized gases can exist naturally without human intervention, seeking examples from extreme natural conditions like lightning or the sun.
  • Another participant inquires about the minimum temperature required for any gas to become ionized.
  • It is noted that the upper atmosphere is primarily plasma, with ultraviolet photons from the sun being a source of ionization, indicating that plasmas can exist without high temperatures.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the natural occurrence of ionized gases and the methods of their creation. There is no consensus on whether ionized gases can exist without human intervention or what the minimum ionization temperature might be.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not resolved the question of natural ionized gases or the specific conditions under which ionization occurs, leaving several assumptions and definitions open to interpretation.

maximus
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do any exist (possibly an isotope?) or is it posible to create an ionized gas without heating it up (i.e. making it a plasma)?
 
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maximus said:
do any exist (possibly an isotope?) or is it posible to create an ionized gas without heating it up (i.e. making it a plasma)?

A flame is nothing more than ionized gas. So yes, ionized gas exists. You also have roughly an "ionized gas" in a typical conductor - the conduction electron gas. These are just your average, everyday examples beyond what you would find in a physics research lab.

One can ionize gas a number of ways beyond just heating, such as electron/proton/etc bombardment, or strong electrical discharge (which is the same as electron bombardment but at a much larger scale).

Zz.
 
ZapperZ said:
One can ionize gas a number of ways beyond just heating, such as electron/proton/etc bombardment, or strong electrical discharge (which is the same as electron bombardment but at a much larger scale.

i guess what i was asking was whether or not such a gas exists naturally, without any human intervention (i.e. heating, bombardment, etc). and i guess what i mean by naturally is in nature, out of extreme conditions like lightning, the sun (i.e. at room temperature)
 
i have yet another question (that is after the first one gets answered): what is the minimum temperature at which any gas can become ionized?
 
The upper atmosphere is mostly plasma. Ultraviolet photons from the sun break ionize the atoms there.

Plasmas are not necessarily hot; all that you need to do is provide energy for the electrons to leave their atoms. That energy can come in forms other than heat, e.g. UV light, or an electric current passing through the gas.

- Warren
 

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