Thread: Chemical vs. electrostatic forces

Good oxidizers believed to be such because they have nucleus with highly positive charge and attract electrons.But why this attraction do not spread on large distances in difference from electrostatic forces?Oxydizer and reducer need to come in contact to exchange electrons.

That little guy has to crash through a crowd of millions of people running around faster than him. He doesn't have as much energy as they do.

Originally Posted by Stanley514

Good oxidizers believed to be such because they have nucleus with highly positive charge and attract electrons.But why this attraction do not spread on large distances in difference from electrostatic forces?Oxydizer and reducer need to come in contact to exchange electrons.

I'm not real clear on the details, but I think that even nuclei with highly positive charge (high atomic number) are electrically neutral (overall) in their "natural" state.

Some atoms tend to easily "give up" an outer shell electron (or more than one) and other atoms tend to "take" outer shell electrons. These two types of atoms form ionic bonds.

Other types of atoms tend to share their outer shell electrons with other "like-minded" atoms. These types of atoms form covalent bonds.

That's about all I remember from high school chemistry. I can't guaranty that it's 100% correct.

Chris

PS: I couldn't help but notice signature line. I take it you're anti-slavery. I think most of the folks in this forum are, too.

That little guy has to crash through a crowd of millions of people running around faster than him. He doesn't have as much energy as they do.

Could you use more thematic language,please?
I`m interesting to know why batteries though could store more energy than capacitors do not suffer for threat of dielectric breakdown.In capacitor energy is stored in electric field between charged plates because opposite attract.
In battery molecules of oxydizer also attract electrons but they do not do it remotely like charges do.They need come in physical contact and be connected with some condacting material.What is difference in physics of those phenomenons?

Capacitors store electrical energy by storing electrical charges. Batteries (of the type you describe) store electrical energy by first converting electrical energy into chemical energy in the charging cycle of the battery and then converting that chemical energy back into electrical energy in the discharge cycle.

These are two totally different processes.

Chris

Why oxidizer molecules do not attract reducer molecules at large distances?
The nature of attraction is still electrostatic or not?

Originally Posted by Stanley514

Why oxidizer molecules do not attract reducer molecules at large distances?
The nature of attraction is still electrostatic or not?

Oxidizer molecules and reducer molecules are electrically neutral. As I mentioned earlier, their reducing or ozidizing characteristics are determined by their tendency to "give away" electrons (reducing) or "capture" electrons (oxidizing) in their outer electron shell.

Because they're electrically neutral they don't attract each other electrostatically.

Chris