Re: About Salts

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jolyon Vater Cox by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <jolyon-at-vatercox.freeserve.co.uk>

With respect to question about magnesium, the colour observed when
electrically excited is actually LIGHT GREEN rather than dazzling white seen
when Mg burns chemically -as the electric discharge causes emission of line
spectra not normally seen in regular combustion.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
To: <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>
Sent: Sunday, July 21, 2002 12:41 AM
Subject: Re: About Salts


> Original poster: "davep by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>"
<davep-at-quik-dot-com>
>
> > A question about salts
> >
> > I have some epsom salt. I think its mgso4
> > my question is will this work for producing colored arcs?
>
> The spectrum of Mg is 'white', that is, a roughly
> equalmix of all colors.  (ir arther, enough of them
> to make white....)
>
> > I know mg makes very bright/hot flame when burnt.
> > I'm guessing it may not be safe to use...
> I would not expect problems from epsom salts.
>
> (nor any color...)
>
> Lighting pure Mg is tricky and hazardous.
>
>
> > Also I am wondering what is the scientific explanation of
>
> > this effect...
> > my guess is the very high voltage discharges are vaporizing
>
> > the wet salt. The vapors then burn to create what ever color
>
> > the burning elements in the salt produce.
>
> Color production does not require burning.
> It requires the atoms to be at 'high energy', which can
> be by burning (eg pyrotechnics) or electrical
> excitation ('salts' in HV arc, UV from mercury in
> fluorescent lamp), or optical (UV excitation
> of visible phopohors in fluorescent.)
>
>
> > I am wondering if the vaporization is due to heat (my coil seems
>
> > to produce very little to no heat,
>
> The high (electric) energies can vaporize without
> 'sensible' heat.
>
> > by the time I unplug and discharge/ground caps no
> > heat is detectable on any component), or if there is some type of
> > Ionic(ionic/covalent? been ahwile ) bond break down in the salts.
>
> That's as close.  On a detail level, the effect is the same,
> tho heating is more of a 'brute force' approach.
>
> >Is there a separation of the salts elements from HV electrical
>
> > Ionization into their flamable components?
>
> 'flammable' is irrelavant.  In either flame or
> electric excitation the _energies_ are equivalent.
>
> > If we used table salt as an example does the sodium
> > seperate from the chlorine?
>
> Yes, and both will yield their spectra.
>
> > Is the orange from sodium burning?
>
> Sodium is classically 'yellow' spectrum line,
> whether excited electrically or thermally.
>
>
> > Or am I way off here.....?
> > Is there a color chart posted on the net somewhere?
> > Like a color key for a gas chromatagraph?
>
> Same chart.
> Same spectra.
>
> > Does a gas chromatigraph use an electrical charge to
>
> > vaporize elements that only burn at high temperatures?
> Gahhh.  It's been a while.  I think both techniques
>
> are used, depending on the instrument....
>
> best
> dwp
>
> ...the net of a million lies...
> Vernor Vinge
> There are Many Web Sites which Say Many Things.
> -me
>
>
>
>