An Alternative to the Flame Test: Using Inexpensive Tesla Coils to Produce the Emission Spectra of Metal Salts
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Axel Milne [1]
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[1] Charles Darwin University
Charles Darwin University
Australia
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- Localización: Journal of chemical education, ISSN 0021-9584, Vol. 99, Nº 7, 2022, págs. 2766-2771
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
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Resumen
High-voltage plasma arcs from solid-state Tesla coils were used to produce characteristic atomic emissions of various metals. The colored arcs produced were highly visible and vibrant, making for a spectacularly engaging demonstration for groups of varying sizes. The demonstration used an inexpensive solid-state Tesla coil to generate low-current, high-frequency, high-voltage electrical arcs that atomize and excite metal salts within a constructed vessel, eliciting the associated characteristic spectral emissions as a result. The demonstration serves as a valuable, accessible, and safer alternative to solvent-based demonstrations. Specifically, this method can challenge student misconceptions associated with the traditional flame test due to the flameless nature of the arcs. The demonstration also introduces the mechanisms underpinning inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometers, which are commonplace in analytical laboratories. The high-frequency nature of the Tesla coil arcs reduces the risks of burns and can facilitate further discussions regarding plasma, states of matter, electron behavior, electricity, and alternate forms of spectroscopy.
