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JGM_14
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What exactly happens to the gas molecules in an electric arc? Oxygen turns to ozone, methane turns to acetelyene.
mgb_phys said:I imagine quite few of them burn.
So most methane probably ends up as CO2 + H2O, you can convert methane to acetelyene + hydrogen but I think you need pretty extreme plasma conditions.
You probably make quite a lot of NOx as well
JGM_14 said:I mean like in an atmosphere comprised soley of that gas.
What exactly happens to the gas molecules in an electric arc? Oxygen turns to ozone, methane turns to acetelyene.
An electric arc is a luminous discharge of electricity that occurs between two electrodes. It forms when a high voltage is applied to a gap between two conductors, causing a flow of current through the air. This creates a plasma channel, which emits light and heat energy.
Gas molecules are made up of atoms that are constantly moving and colliding with each other. In an electric arc, the high voltage causes the gas molecules to become ionized, meaning they lose or gain electrons. This creates a plasma state, where the gas molecules are able to conduct electricity and emit light.
Gas molecules play a crucial role in the formation of an electric arc. When the high voltage is applied, the gas molecules become ionized and form a plasma channel, which allows the current to flow and creates the arc. The gas molecules also emit light and heat energy, making the electric arc visible and hot.
The composition of gas molecules can greatly impact the behavior of an electric arc. Different types of gas molecules have different ionization potentials, meaning they require varying amounts of energy to become ionized. This can affect the stability and intensity of the arc, as well as the color of the light emitted.
Studying gas molecules in an electric arc has many practical applications. It can help in the development and improvement of welding and cutting processes, as well as in the design of electric arc furnaces for metal production. It also plays a role in understanding the behavior of lightning and other high voltage phenomena in the atmosphere.