Herman - Standard - Chapter Overview - ch11

Section 4
Small Sources of Electricity
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Unit 11
Conduction in Liquids and Gases
Objectives
• After studying this unit, you should be able to:

• Define positive and negative ions
• Discuss electrical conduction in a gas
• Discuss electrical conduction in a liquid
• Discuss several processes that occur as a result of
ionization
Preview
• Conduction of electric current

• Generally thought of as electrons moving through a wire
• Many processes, depend on electric current flowing through
a gas or liquid
• Batteries and fluorescent lighting
• Conduction in gases and liquids
• Depends on the movement of ions
The Ionization Process: Magnesium and Chlorine
• Ion: charged atom

• Positive ions: have a deficiency of electrons
• Negative ions: have gained extra electrons
• Magnesium atom: contains two valence electrons
• Considered a metal
• Chlorine: contains seven valence electrons
• Considered a nonmetal
FIGURE 11–1 Magnesium and chlorine atoms.
FIGURE 11–2 Magnesium and chlorine atoms
combine to form magnesium chloride.
FIGURE 11–3 Conduction in a liquid.
FIGURE 11–4 Adding salt to the water causes the lamp to glow.
The Ionization Process: Magnesium and Chlorine (Cont’d)
• Salt is not the only compound that can be used to

promote conduction in a liquid
• Acids, alkalies, and other types of metallic salts can be used
• Often referred to as electrolytes
Other Types of Ions
• There are other types of ions that are formed from

groups of atoms
• Sulfuric acid: electrolyte for lead-acid batteries used in
automobiles
• Copper sulfate: used in copper electroplating processes
• Cuprous cyanide: used to electroplate copper to iron
Electroplating
• Depositing atoms of one type of metal on another

• Electrolyte solution: ions of metal to be plated
• Metal ions: always positively charged
• Object to be plated: connected to negative terminal
• Direct current: used as the power source
• Positive terminal: made of same metal to form coating
FIGURE 11–5 The electroplating process.
Electrolysis
• Process of separating elements electrically

• Elements are often chemically combined with other
elements and must be separated
• Separating aluminum and oxygen
• Electrons are removed from oxygen ions and returned to
aluminum ions
Conduction in Gases
• Occurs when an arc is established across a gap across

the electrodes
• Amount of current is limited by the impedance of the rest of
the circuit
• Once an arc has been established, it has a very low resistance
FIGURE 11–6 Air acts as an insulator.
FIGURE 11–7 When the voltage becomes high enough, an arc is established.
Ionization Potential in a Gas
• Ionization potential
• Amount of voltage, or potential, an electron must possess to
cause ionization
• Electron impact
• Most important factor in the ionization of a gas
• Conduction in a gas occurs as a result of electron impact
from molecule to molecule
FIGURE 11–9 Electron impact frees other electrons from gas molecules.
FIGURE 11–10 Under high pressure, the electron can travel
only a short distance between impacts with gas molecules.
FIGURE 11–11 Under low pressure, the electron can
travel a greater distance before striking a gas atom.
Useful Applications
• Light production
• X-rays
• Cathode ray tube
FIGURE 11–12 Cathode ray tube.
Ionization in Nature
• Aurora borealis, or northern lights

• Familiar phenomena caused by ionization of gas
• Colors are caused by layers of the atmosphere being ionized
• Saint Elmo’s fire

• Buildup of atmospheric charged particles not strong enough
to cause lightning
• Continuous discharge of light around objects
Summary
• Electrical conduction in a liquid

• Caused by a movement of charged atoms called ions
• Pure water: an insulator
• Becomes a conductor if an acid, an alkali, or a metallic salt
is added
• Electrolytes: solutions of acids, alkalies, and metallic
salts
Summary (Cont’d)
• Electroplating: process of depositing atoms of one type

of metal onto another
• Electroplating of metals: affected by several factors
• Cathode: negative terminal of a device
• Anode: positive terminal of a device
Summary (Cont’d)
• Common use for electroplating: production of pure

metals
• Electrolysis: process of separating elements electrically
• Conduction through a gas: depends on the ionization of
gas molecules
• Ionization potential: amount of voltage required to
cause ionization of a gas
Summary (Cont’d)
• Gas can be ionized more easily when it is at a low

pressure than when it is at a high pressure
• Ionization potential: different for different gases
• Electron impact: most important factor in the ionization
of a gas

Herman - Standard - Chapter Overview - ch11

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Section 4

Small Sources of Electricity

Conduction in Liquids and Gases

• After studying this unit, you should be able to:

• Conduction of electric current

• Ion: charged atom

• Salt is not the only compound that can be used to

• There are other types of ions that are formed from

• Depositing atoms of one type of metal on another

• Process of separating elements electrically

• Occurs when an arc is established across a gap across

FIGURE 11–12 Cathode ray tube.

• Aurora borealis, or northern lights

• Saint Elmo’s fire

• Electrical conduction in a liquid

• Electroplating: process of depositing atoms of one type

• Common use for electroplating: production of pure

• Gas can be ionized more easily when it is at a low

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