Processes in spark electric discharge in air, nitrogen and oxygen

The yield of redox reactions in aqueous solutions under the action of a remote spark discharge in the air, nitrogen and oxygen was studied. Mohr's salt and potassium permanganate were used as test substances. The direct and indirect effects of a source of active particles were compared. On direct exposure active species can immediately interact with the substance. By indirect action the source of active species directly affects only water. Immediately after treatment water was mixed with a solution of the test substance and the reactions of accumulated active species with the test substance began. When discharged in air medium, the oxidation and reduction reaction yields are approximately the same 5 - 6 1(100 эВ)-1 eV. Equal yields means that active species are firstly produced in water. When discharged in the nitrogen and oxygen medium, the oxidation yield is ∼15% lower, and the recovery yield is much lower. In this case, there is oxygen or nitrogen in the aqueous solution, so nitrogen oxides cannot be formed in water. So the contribution of products, produced in the discharge region is not more than 15% and that radiation plays a major role in initiating of chemical processes in liquid. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd