Salt water and potential difference

[Tryhard314]

Imagine a container of salt water at 0V (Relative to ground),Now you've put in it 2 electrodes,one at +500V (Electrode A), The other at +250V(Electrode b), Normally positive ions should go to the negative electrode , and Negative ions should go to the positive electrode , But in our example the salt water is at 0V So you would have to do positive work to go to those electrodes. But because a negative charge do a negative work to reach a higher potential, they will be attracted to both electrodes, But there would be a higher attraction for the +500V than the 250+,

My Idea is this: With more and more negative ions leaving the salt water to get dissolved in the electrodes, Salt water potential will rise until it's >250V because if salt water potential raises more than +250V positive ions will start being forced to go to the 250V electrode because it's at a lower potential, and no more negative ions will go to the +250V because they would need to do positive work to go from salt water to that electrode.

Further more I think salt water's potential will reach exactly 375V, because at this value the potential difference between Electrode A (500V) and Salt water(375V) = 125V, and the potential difference between Salt water(375V) and electrode B (250V) = 125V
So the number of positive ions that go the Electrode B is equal to the number of negative ions that go to the electrode A

 

[jartsa]

What does "potential of salt water" mean?

Can we model this situation as a resistor whose two ends are connected to two potentials, or as a conductor whose two ends are connected to two potentials?

In the first case potential somewhere between the electrodes is between the potentials of the electrodes.

In the second case there is a huge explosion, I mean something must break in the second case.

 

[berkeman]

Thread is in Moderation temporarily for review...

Thread re-opened for discussion. Thanks for your patience.

 

[berkeman]

Further more I think salt water's potential will reach exactly 375V, because at this value the potential difference between Electrode A (500V) and Salt water(375V) = 125V, and the potential difference between Salt water(375V) and electrode B (250V) = 125V
So the number of positive ions that go the Electrode B is equal to the number of negative ions that go to the electrode A

It depends on how conductive the salt water solution is. If it's very conductive, it will short out your voltage source. If it's not very conductive, you will end up with electric field lines defining the potentials and the voltages inside the "grounded" equipotential cylinder and between the electrodes. Think of extending this simulation plot to the case where there is a surrounding equipotential cylinder...

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...-aUKtQMbl-CC5sUK4mmSTfmgRuWwl_nuwBh7DKp5LLw&s

 

[Dale]

I think salt water's potential will reach exactly 375V, because at this value the potential difference between Electrode A (500V) and Salt water(375V) = 125V, and the potential difference between Salt water(375V) and electrode B (250V) = 125V

There is a current through the salt water so by ohms law the voltage will vary within the water itself. Near electrode B it will be near 250 V and near electrode A it will be near 500 V.

 

[BvU]

But in our example the salt water is at 0V

You can't keep it there with ony two electrodes at +250 and +500 V

 

[Tryhard314]

There is a current through the salt water so by ohms law the voltage will vary within the water itself. Near electrode B it will be near 250 V and near electrode A it will be near 500 V.

After writing for 1 hour,I realized that in my first post i worked for the average value of potential inside the salt water,and you just described how the potential gradient is inside the salt water because there can't be a direct drop from +500 to 375V ,I leave you this paint image of my circuit if someone want to use it someday And Thanks !

 

[sophiecentaur]

So you would have to do positive work to go to those electrodes. But because a negative charge do a negative work to reach a higher potential, they will be attracted to both electrodes, But there would be a higher attraction for the +500V than the 250+,

The container will have Electrical Capacitance to Earth of only a few hundred picoFarads and the amount of charge that needs to flow in order to bring one electrode to 250V would be perhaps a microCoulomb. The Work Done will be minuscule (CV²/2)After that, the only relevant Potential would be the PD between the two electrodes and you've got a normal electrolytic cell, through which will be flowing many Coulombs per second.
The Potential relative to Earth in many situations is very often irrelevant. Exceptions: Appreciable initial current will flow to the helicopter during hot wire maintenance of very high voltage lines and, of course, the current that can flow from your hand to a MOS circuit can be relevant - requiring an Earth strap for circuit construction. Mains voltage circuits have very few 'static charge' effects.

 

[profbuxton]

do a google search on "Liquid motor starters"