Can Sodium Ions in the Brain Be Excited with Electromagnetic Radiation?

AI Thread Summary
Exciting sodium ions in the brain with photons from electromagnetic radiation to produce a visible yellow glow, similar to that from a sodium-vapor lamp, is theoretically possible. The key requirement is a sufficient concentration of sodium ions; if the concentration is too low, the excitation may occur, but the light will not be visible. The visibility of the glow also depends on the frequency of the radiation used. For example, a yellow flame from sodium in a lab setting is achieved by providing the right amount of heat, which excites the electrons adequately to emit photons in the visible spectrum. Insufficient or excessive heat can prevent the necessary excitation for visible light emission.
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Is it possible to excite the sodium ion in the brain with photon from electromagnetic radiation to create a yellow glow like the sodium-vapor lamp here? Please bear with me, I'm bad with Chemistry
 
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I will definitely help you, provided you tell me what exactly is that you want to know. Do you want to see a yellow glow coming from the brain, or do you want to know if it is possible?
 
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Right I want to see a yellow glow coming from the brain
 
I will help you as long as you promise not to do this to me. :nb):-p

So to actually "see" yellow light out of the brain, all you require is sufficiently large no of sodium ions. Sodium ion anywhere is the same. So if a sodium ion in a vapor lamp will give this, the sodium ion in our brain will too. But if the concentration of the ions is very less, then though the excitation happens, it may not be visible.

In addition, the light will also depend on the frequency of radiation you use. We have seen a yellow flame appearing from sodium in our labs using a Bunsen burner, but that is probably just the right "amount" of heat. Too less heat, and you won't see anything because the excitation of electron is not sufficient to release a photon whose wavelength corresponds to that of visible light. Same problem with a very high temperature.
 
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