Chemistry of Lightning

Chemistry Connections

Episode #25

Welcome to Chemistry Connections, my name is Christopher Sawicki, and I am your host for episode #25. Today I will be discussing the chemistry of lightning.

Segment 1: Introduction to lightning

Lighting, how lightning is produced and why
Lighting gives of a smell and color
Ionization: transfer of electrons to form an ion or from an ion
Intramolecular forces: attractions between atoms in a molecule
Intermolecular forces: attractions between entire molecules

Segment 2: The Chemistry Behind lightning

Lightning

Water and ice move around in the cloud, ice has a negative charge
Updrafts and downdrafts in storms cause water molecules to collide which causes electrons to be separated from the molecules and move towards the bottom of the cloud
Warm updrafts sweep positively charged molecules to the top of the cloud
Updraft: current of air moving up
Positive ions move towards the top of the cloud and creates an electric field
Electrons are attracted to positive charged ions on the ground
Can contain billions to trillions of electrons
1 billion volts of electricity
Up to 5 billion Joules of energy
Electrons are attracted to positive charged ions because they want to neutralize themselves.
Protons move up and meet the electrons as they move down
As electrons move down through during lightning, they crash into more molecules in the air, creating more ions
This is why metals attract lightning because it has a sea of electrons and many positive charged ions.

Smell

The smell of thunderstorms is the result of ozone in the air
As lightning travels down, it splits O2 molecules creating 2 oxygen atoms
These oxygen atoms then bond with other O2 molecules creating ozone, O3

Color

Creates a blue-violet color highlighting the lightning bolt
Electrons form lightning ionize O2 and N2 molecules
These molecules become excited and take on a different color when in this state

Heat

The electrons in lightning carry heat.
Lightning can be up to 54,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Which is 6 times hotter than the sun
Intramolecular forces
Air is a poor conductor electricity
Conductor means it it is easy for electrons to pass through
Not ionic or metallic, covalent bonds make electrons not as attracted and easily given or pulled off
Because air is a poor conductor of electricity, there is a greater resistance to the electrons moving through the air, which creates heat, heating up the molecules are the lightning

Segment 3: Personal Connections

Lightning fascinates me because clouds form seemingly out of nothing, evaporated water and produce lighting bolts with billions of electrons
Enough electricity and energy to kill people
2000 people die a year due to lightning
Always thought lightning was cool and wanted to know what cause lightning to occur

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