static electricity

Marc Afifi (mafifi@redshift.com)
Wed, 13 May 1998 14:38:27 -0700


Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 14:38:27 -0700
Message-Id: <v01520d00b17f5c14cd62@[192.168.1.201]>
To: pinhole@exploratorium.edu
From: mafifi@redshift.com (Marc Afifi)
Subject: static electricity

A question I didn't quite know how to answer from one of my students is:

If chemical reactions involve the transfer or sharing of electrons, does a
static buildup on a material's surface cause a chemical reaction at the
surface? Are different molecules formed by the loss or gain of electrons?

I welcome all replies as I have never thought of it this way.

-Marc

--
Marc Afifi
Physics and Chemistry
Pacific Grove High School
615 Sunset Dr.
Pacific Grove, CA, 93950

(408) 646-6590 ext. 223

Favorite Oakland Raiders Motto: "Just When Baby?"