This week in Hands-On Science, students learned about the relationship between electricity and light with a unique demonstration. Passing a direct current of 120 Volts through a Dill Pickle soaked in saltwater brine caused the electrons in the sodium ions present to become excited into a high-energy state. These high-energy electrons emit yellow light when they fall back down to ground state. The electrical energy had been converted to heat and light, and this made the pickle "glow"!
This is, in fact, how many sodium-vapor street lamps in older neighborhoods work; by exciting sodium ions with electricity, yellow light can be produced. Very electrifying indeed! #Science #Electromagnetism #Pickles
