The microwave plasma mystery

I've posted about plasma before, specifically from Veritasium.  That video does a great job explaining why halved grapes - and other similarly sized, primarily water objects - can create plasma in a microwave oven

Today's video looks at why plasma can be created from non-water systems like matches under an upside-down beaker, something I've tried before and can verify the ease of it working.

Just to protect myself legally, don't try this at home. Be smart, folks.

Why pickles make great light bulbs

I hope this goes without saying, but do not try this at home.

It's been a few years since I've done the electric pickle demonstration. Maybe I should do that again next year.

In all honesty, I sometimes forget how cool some of the demos that I've done through the years are. It's so easy to forget which demos go where and to just accidentally let them slide into forgetfulness.

Let's light a pickle next year, folks.

And, yes, I'm rethinking my dislike for The Action Lab.

How Is Black Fire Made?

TL;DW - it involves sacrificing a virginal chemistry student to the chemistry gods...

jk

Actually, this one's pretty brilliant. It's the distinction between emission and absorption spectra.

See, when the yellow light is produced (or emitted) - as shown around 1:00 in the video - it's because electrons are bouncing up and down within the atom (as shown via a Bohr model). That's an emission spectrum.

That requires energy. In the fire that energy comes from the chemical reaction of the ethanol (remember kids, no methanol) with oxygen...burning.

When the sodium vapor light is on, however, it's providing exactly the right amount of energy to excite those electrons. Which is then absorbed by the sodium atoms in the flame, leaving behind no light at all. That's an absorption spectrum.

And that's so cool...