two electrodes reaction?

Question

if two electrodes at a given length are set in a water tank at a given space apart from each other,they are tottally covered with water,then a external sorce of a given high voltage electricity in natural air is applied is it possible for any arcing to happen in the water....also if a plastic seperator is used at the top ends of the electrodes to keep the ends apart at the same given distance would it conduct electricity and lose some from the electrodes.thanks

Answer 1

Arcing occurs in air when the applied voltage exceeds the breakdown limit. (The breakdown voltage is different for different gases.) Water is much more conductive than air (although pure water has a much higher resistance than tap water). Any high voltage would immediately be conducted through the water, and no arcing could occure.
Corrosion of the conductors will normally occure unless designed for the particular electrolyte used in the solution. In most cases, Platinum would be a good choice for the metal, although expensive.

Answer 2

Pure water does not conduct electricity well. However it's polarized molecule breaks down most salts very well into ions. Once we have ions and an electric field the current will flow.

Does that help?

Answer 3

You might be able to start an arc in salty water if you could supply enough current long enough to locally evaporate the water. In pure water, your best bet would be to start a carbon arc. Once started, it would release enough heat to evaporate the water, and you would have a carbon arc in air producing enough heat to evaporate water, and also electrolyze water into hydrogen and oxygen, which would immediately combust in the arc and provide more heat.

Answer 4

Just try being normal like the rest of us and worry if little mo is going to loose the baby in eastenders or if harold gets to see little louanne again in neighbours. Leave all that boring stuff to scientests and stuff