CIA Demonstration: The Electric Pickle (4.1.2)

Question 1

• Pickles contain electrolytes that allow current to flow through them.

Answer 1

• Pickles contain electrolytes that allow current to flow through them.

Question 2

• The relaxation of electrons in sodium from excited states causes the pickles to glow orange-yellow.

Answer 2

• The relaxation of electrons in sodium from excited states causes the pickles to glow orange-yellow.

Question 3

Electrolytes are particles (such as ions) that, in
solution, enable the conduction of electricity.
Pickles contain acetic acid (CH3COOH) and sodium
chloride (NaCl), both of which yield ions when
dissolved in solution.
These electrolytes allow current to flow through a
pickle plugged into the wall.
When a pickle is plugged in, it glows orange-yellow.
This color is caused by the relaxation of electrons in
sodium from excited states to the ground state.
This same process causes sodium streetlights to
have an orange-yellow color.

Answer 3

Electrolytes are particles (such as ions) that, in
solution, enable the conduction of electricity.
Pickles contain acetic acid (CH3COOH) and sodium
chloride (NaCl), both of which yield ions when
dissolved in solution.
These electrolytes allow current to flow through a
pickle plugged into the wall.
When a pickle is plugged in, it glows orange-yellow.
This color is caused by the relaxation of electrons in
sodium from excited states to the ground state.
This same process causes sodium streetlights to
have an orange-yellow color.