Charging objects by friction & chemical reaction

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around the triboelectric effect, which occurs when a plastic rod is rubbed with wool, leading to charge buildup on both materials. Participants explore the nature of the charge transfer, questioning whether it involves free electrons or if molecules on one surface are losing electrons to become cations while the other surface gains them to become anions. It is clarified that neither material has free electrons, ruling out that possibility. Instead, the charge transfer is likely due to the removal of electrons from molecules, resulting in one surface becoming positively charged and the other negatively charged. The conversation also touches on methods of charging objects, including charging by conduction, and confirms that applying voltage to a grounded metallic object can induce a static charge, albeit typically small. Overall, the key focus is on understanding the mechanisms behind the triboelectric effect and the nature of charge transfer between materials.
simplescience
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While rubbing the plastic rod with the wool causes the building up of charges on both of them.

1. What chemical reaction takes place between them.
2. Does it create anions and cations?
3. Is it the transfer of free electrons (I don't think so, because generally they are bad conductor of electricity.)
 
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It is called a triboelectric effect (try to google that).
 
Borek said:
It is called a triboelectric effect (try to google that).

Yes, have read it. But they are talking about exchange of electrons. But couldn't find out if those electrons are the
1. free electrons,
OR
2. molecules on one surface snatches away the electrons from the molecules of other surface making the snatcher as anions and the looser as cations.Do reply,

Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Neither of the objects involved has free electrons, so they are ruled out.
 
simplescience said:
Yes, have read it. But they are talking about exchange of electrons. But couldn't find out if those electrons are the
1. free electrons,
OR
2. molecules on one surface snatches away the electrons from the molecules of other surface making the snatcher as anions and the looser as cations.Do reply,

Thanks.

Borek said:
Neither of the objects involved has free electrons, so they are ruled out.

Then the only possibilities are...

1. Ripping away of an electron from molecule of one surface, thus turning that molecule into a positive ion. The lost electron becomes part of the molecule of the other surface and it becomes a negative ion.

OR

2. Tearing away the Molecule of one surface making it a positive ion (or negative ion). The teared part of the molecule makes a bond with the molecule of other surface and thus makes a more complex negative ion.I think any of the above tend to happen. There is no other possibility remaining.

Kindly comment.

Thanks
 
Hello people I know that there are onlyfthree methods to charge an object
1 by friction or chemical reaction
2 by tribo-electro method
3 charging by induction and conduction
But can applying voltage to a metallic object from a battery who's other terminal is grounded produce static charge on that metallic object??
 
Yes, but it is already mentioned in your list. That would classify as charging by conduction for me.
 
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Likes Narayanan KR
QUOTE="Borek, post: 5081879, member: 23711"]Yes, but it is already mentioned in your list. That would classify as charging by conduction for me.[/QUOTE]
Thank you sir ...So the metal will get charged right?
 
  • #10
Yes. Typically pretty small charge, but it will be definitely there.

Whenever you have two objects and potential difference between them, you can be sure they are charged (or at least one is charged).
 
  • #11
Borek said:
Yes. Typically pretty small charge, but it will be definitely there.

Whenever you have two objects and potential difference between them, you can be sure they are charged (or at least one is charged).
Thank you sir!
 
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