Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

name         Trista
status       educator
age          30s

Question -   What happens to the electrons when a substance is
vaporized in a flame?
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Trista,

If the substance reacts then the electrons participate in the
chemical reaction.  Otherwise, nothing special happens to the
electrons.  For example, vaporizing water just forms steam (the gaseous
form of water) so no chemical reaction has occurred and thus the
electrons haven't done anything special.  On the other hand, burning
wood forms water vapor and carbon dioxide from the organic chemicals in
the wood.  Because this is a chemical reaction the electrons are
involved.  They are freed from one type of chemical bond but very
quickly get tied up in another, more stable, chemical bond.

Greg Bradburn
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