Positively Charged Metal Sphere: Reactivity & Capacitors

AI Thread Summary
A positively charged metal sphere does not react with oxygen or other elements in the air because the surrounding gases are neutrally charged and do not have a strong tendency to react with the charged sphere. The discussion emphasizes that an ion can exist in air without reacting, challenging the assumption that it must react due to its charge. Capacitor plates, when charged, also do not react with air under normal conditions, maintaining their conductivity. However, in high humidity, there may be some leakage from the sphere due to moisture. Overall, the notion that charged objects must react with their environment is questioned, highlighting the stability of ions in neutral air.
Abdullah Wahid
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When we make a metal sphere positively charged by electricity, why doesn't it react with oxygen or any other element in air as metal has positive charges and one of the element in air must react with sphere as I think an ion can never stand in air without reacting?
If it reacts, why doesn't the capacitor plates react with air??
 
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Abdullah Wahid said:
When we make a metal sphere positively charged by electricity, why doesn't it react with oxygen or any other element in air

why would it ?

gasses in the air around you is neutrally charged

Abdullah Wahid said:
why doesn't it react with oxygen or any other element in air as metal has positive charges and one of the element in air must react with sphere as I think an ion can never stand in air without reacting?
have a think and consider my previous comment, then re-ask yourself ... Why must it react ?

Abdullah Wahid said:
If it reacts, why doesn't the capacitor plates react with air??

as you have now discovered ... it doesn't

Caveat ... if the air around the sphere is very moist ( high humidity) there will possibly/probably be some leakage from the sphere
and probably mainly down the pole/other thing that is supporting the sphereDave
 
davenn said:
why would it ?

gasses in the air around you is neutrally charged
have a think and consider my previous comment, then re-ask yourself ... Why must it react ?
as you have now discovered ... it doesn't

Caveat ... if the air around the sphere is very moist ( high humidity) there will possibly/probably be some leakage from the sphere
and probably mainly down the pole/other thing that is supporting the sphereDave

Actually i think that nature will never allow an ion to stay in air without reacting. As charges are present it must react with something , probably with air as air has surrounded it and air also have some moisture in it.
If capacitor reacts, conductivity of plates should be effected as new compund is formed and mass of plates must change. Isn't it??
 
Abdullah Wahid said:
Actually i think that nature will never allow an ion to stay in air without reacting. As charges are present it must react with something ,

I have a feeling you don't know what an ion is ?

describe to me what you think it is :smile:

Abdullah Wahid said:
If capacitor reacts, conductivity of plates should be effected as new compound is formed and mass of plates must change. Isn't it??

no
 
davenn said:
I have a feeling you don't know what an ion is ?

describe to me what you think it is :smile:
no
Ion is an atom with net charge due to gain or loss of electrons. When sphere is charged positively, it has lesser electrons than what it had in neutral state, so this means some atoms must habe lost their valance electons.
Isn't it true
 
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