Experiment

Reactions in Lightning
By

Monty N. J. Attzs
CHM 1101-02
Experiment Performer: 28th Jan - 12th Feb 2014
Report Submitted: 18th Feb 2014

Lab Partners:
Faseeh Syed
Alyaa Galil
Angel Ortiz

Introduction
The purpose of this lab was to investigate the chemical reactions that occur during lightning.
Particularly, the production of NOx gas was studied.

Data/ Results
1st Week Results:
ABS @ 550 nm vs. NO2- Concentration
0.6
0.5
0.4 f(x) = 0.49x - 0.01
ABS @ 550 nm

0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.5

1.5

NO2- Concentration (g/mL)

Room temp. = 294.71 K

Atmospheric pressure = 1.005 atm

NO2- Concentration (g/mL)

0
1
0.71
0.42
0.2

ABS @
550 nm
0.001
0.478
0.356
0.182
0.082

Figure
1
Figure
2
Spark
Duration (s)
15

15.1

Absorbance
at 550 nm
0.793

Concentration of
nitrite (g NO2-/mL)
1.634

Concentration of
NO2 gas (g/L)
6814.17

Conc. of NOx
(in ppm)
3563.86

15.2

1.055

2.168

9040.60

4728.30

Sample

15.3

1.089

2.237
Figure
3

9329.53

4879.41

2nd Week Results:

Room temp. = 294.71 K
Atmospheric pressure = 1.007 atm

Spark
Duration
5
Spark
Duratio
10
n (s)
5
10
20
20
25
25

Sampl
e
5.1
5.2
Average 5.3
Conc. 10.1
(ppm) 10.2
3305.4310.3
5684.4020.1
7974.6420.2
8186.0720.3
25.1
25.2
25.3

Absorbanc
e at 550 nm
0.690
0.957
0.562
1.193
1.493
1.132
1.777
1.844
1.746
1.895
1.775
1.840

Conc. Of Nitrite
-

(g NO2 /mL)

Conc. of NO2 gas

(g/L)

1.424
1.968
1.163
2.449
3.061
2.325
3.639
3.776
3.576
3.880
3.635
3.768

5938.90
8207.81
4851.17
10213.30
12762.65
9694.93
15176.03
15745.38
14912.59
16178.77
15159.03
15711.39

Figure 4

Concentration vs. Spark Duration

9000.00
8000.00
7000.00
6000.00

Figure
5

5000.00
Average Conc. (ppm)
Concentration (ppm) 4000.00
3000.00
2000.00
1000.00
0.00
0

10

15

20

Spark Duration (s)

Figure
6

25

30

Conc. of NOx
(in ppm)

3099.92
4284.22
2532.16
5331.03
6661.71
5060.45
7921.42
8218.60
7783.91
8444.82
7912.54
8200.86

Figure 1 shows the concentration of NO2- versus the absorption at 550 nm, using standard
mixtures of known concentration.

Figure 2 shows a plot of the data in Table 1, giving a linear relationship between the variables.

Figure 3 and Figure 4 show the measured NOx generated by the Tesla Coil for given spark
durations.

Figure 5 shows a table of spark duration (s) versus the average concentration (ppm) for each.

Figure 6 shows a graph of concentration (ppm) versus spark duration (s) based on the data in
Figure 5. The average concentration associated with the 15 second spark interval was not
included in this analysis as there were too many inconsistent factors between its recoding and
that of the 2nd week data. These included (but arent limited to) the facts that the spark distance
may not have been the same and the tesla coil was different.

Finally, from the last graph (Figure 6) it can be seen that there is a positive relationship between
the spark duration and the concentration of NOx gas produced, though not linear.

Sample Calculations:

Calculating NO2- concentration from Beers' Law graph:

(Using Figure 3 Sample 15.1)

NO2- concentration (g/L) = ABS @ 550 nm - y intercept

gradient
= [0.793 (-0.0089)] / 0.4907 = 1.634 g/L
The slope and y-intercept were determined from the Beers Law graph (Figure 2)

Calculating NO2 concentration in developed Indicator solution:

(Using Figure 3 Sample 15.1)

NO2 gas concentration (mg/L) = NO2- conc x 1.39 x Vin

Vgas x

x 1000 mL
1L

= [(1.634)*(1.39)*(3)*(1000)] / [(1)*(1)]

= 6814.17 g/L

NO2- conc (mg/L) - the concentration of NO2- (from previous calculation).

1.39 - conversion factor related to the reaction of NOx gas becoming NO2- in solution.
Vin (mL) - the volume of indicator solution used to mixed with the gas in each syringe.
Vgas (mL) - the volume of gas mixed with the indicator solution in each syringe.

Calculating NOx concentratration in bottle created by Tesla coil:

(Using Figure 3 Sample 15.1)

NOx gas concentration (ppm) = NO2 gas conc x R x T

46.01 g/mol x P
= [(1.634)*(0.08206)*(294.71)] / [(46.01)*(1.005)]
= 3563.86 ppm

NO2- conc (mg/L) is the concentration of NO2- (from previous calculation).

R - the ideal gas constant [0.08206 L atm / (mol K)].
T - the absolute temperature in Kelvin.
P - the atomspheric pressure in atm.

Discussion
The general purpose of this experiment was to investigate the chemical reactions in lightning.
Specifically though, the relationship between spark duration and NOx production was assessed.
It was hypothesized that a longer spark duration would result in a higher concentration of NOx
gas. This was tested by comparing the NOx concentration (dependent variable) to the length of
spark duration (independent variable).
Following the experiment handout procedure, a Beers Law graph was plotted and a relationship
was found between the absorbance at 550 nm and the concentration (g/ml) of NO2 gas in a
given sample. This relationship was used to calculate the concentration for any sample thereafter,
based on its absorbance value at 550 nm.
The experiment handout procedure was repeated, calculating the average concentration of NOx
gas produced for different spark durations; 5, 10, 20 and 25 second, instead of the original 15
seconds. This was done using three samples for each time, so as to get an average concentration
associated with each time (Table 3). A graph of these averages versus their respective time
duration was plotted (Graph 3).
From the graph (Graph 3) it can be seen that there is a positive correlation between the length of
the spark duration and the average NOx concentration. This result completely supports the
hypothesis; however, the exact relationship is still unknown as it does not appear to be a linear
correlation. This may be because as the Tesla Coil sparks, the amount of reactant in the bottle
decreases, causing the concentration to appear to approach a limiting value as the spark durations
is increased.
A noted error in the experiment was that all of the NO x gas may not have been
allowed to leave the bottle after each test. As such, the second trial for each time
duration produced a higher concentration value. More time was given for the bottle
to air out for the third trials, so as to attempt to correct this error.
This experiment was also limited by the size of the spark bottle and length of time
for which the tesla coil could be continuously run. A larger bottle would have
reduced the possibility of having the reactants in the air inside run out over longer
spark durations. Also, had it been possible to run the tesla coil for longer periods of
time without as much of a rest period between uses, it would have been possible to
test the hypothesis over a larger range of values, allowing for more generalized
results.

Reflections
This experiment was a success for my group. We shared the work evenly, allocating jobs
efficiently before the actual experiment. This allowed us to finish all our physical
experimentations within the first 2 weeks of the assignment. Though we assigned roles as
described on the data sheet, we chose to divide to work differently for more efficiency as we
found that the work load was more weighted towards specific roles in this experiment. For
example, as the software tech, in addition to recording data, I also helped with the filling of the
syringes and also with the operations of the SpectroVis while the chemist aided the instrument
technician with the operation of the tesla coil and the collection of samples as there were many to
be done. The manager also filled these intermediate roles helping out in each job, including my
own data recording.
In the end we had fun learning from each other and I believe we made a good team.

Hypothesis It is hypothesized that a longer spark duration will result in a higher concentration
of NOx. This will be tested for 5, 10, 20 and 25 second spark intervals.
Method
1- Set up reaction bottle and tesla coil, in a fixed position, for NOx production in the hood.
Ensure there is a quarter inch gab between the tesla coil tip and the nail.
2- Prepare 12 syringes with 3ml of NOx indicator for concentration tests.
3- Run tesla coil for 5 seconds, quickly draw 1 ml of gas from bottle into the first syringe,
shake for 15 seconds and place in a locker.
4- Check time for said syringe and remove and shake every 15 minutes over a total of 45
minutes.
5- Repeat steps 3 and 4 for times of 5, 10, 20 and 25 seconds, collecting 3 syringe samples
for each.
6- While waiting on syringes, calibrate the SpectroVis using a cuvette filled with NOx
indicator.
7- After the first 45 minute period is over, remove first syringe from its locker, empty
contents into a blank cuvette and measure and record the absorbance of the solution at
550 nm.
8- Repeat step 7 for all other syringes as their respective times come.
9- Use the relationship calculated from the Beers Law plot in the first week to calculate the
concentration of each solution, recording values against their respective spark duration.
10- Plot a graph of Concentration vs. Spark Duration.
11-Assess relationship, if any, from graph.