Re: About Salts

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

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