AIR  IN  DANGER

 

 

Chapter II

 

IN THE FORM OF RECALLS

 

 1 -  ONCE UPON A TIME...  THE UNIVERSE

 

 Thus started the tales, works of fiction, of pure  imagination, intended to charm our childhood, to rock and fill our search of marvellous...

 Who would ever have thought that Science, more precisely Physics, considered austere, based on the rigor, would propose " a history "  more marvellous to us than any of that which no storyteller ever could  imagine? 

 This history, it is our history, that of the birth and the life of  this universe which we live the moment of a beat of wing, but that  much labour and obstinacy enabled us to reconstitute the past since its whole first moments, and of which we better and better  understand the genesis and the evolution. 

 Because this fabulously distant past will enable us to seize one  present often diverting, and to show us that in this universe, nothing, absolutely nothing, depends on the chance, since most banal  of the atoms until highest creations of the spirit. 

Here thus soon fifteen Billion years that was born this thing  as essential as the light and the matter:  it is electricity, in the  form that we know to him and who never varied since his birth.   It is precisely  in the very first seconds that  appeared - numbers some rigorously equal -  the electric  antagonists" charges " , that we called - for want of anything better - " positive  " and " negative ", from which is made up all the matter of our  Universe. 

 

 We observe this extraordinary  precaution which takes nature - or its Creator - certainly to lay out of two types of electric charges, with their own behaviours, but to  create them in an equal number, so that the universe to come, you, me,  and usually all that surrounds us, electrically remains " neutral ". 

This fact will be precisely translated under the usual conditions by the absence of observable electric forces on our scale,  while these same forces will ensure in a fundamental way the existence and cohesion of any matter on the scale of the atoms !  They was there certainly the two initial conditions most draconian to  respect... but  perhaps more " easy" ! 

  Conversely, and as it would be necessary well to  ensure the cohesion and the structuring of this universe, nature will  have another force, everywhere presents, acting on all that exists or  will exist:  it will be the gravitation.   It is there at  every moment, and its presence recalls us unceasingly, and if I dare  statement of what a weight it weighs on us ! 

 However, here still, " lady Nature " will be shown very far-sighted:  this  force of gravitation, immensely lower than the electric forces, will  act in perceptible manner and " structuring " only if  considerable matter masses are gathered by it:  planets, stars,  galaxies to come. 

 

2 -  NOW ... ELECTRICITY ! 

 

Thus, this matter which surrounds us and we are made can  exist and remain only thanks to the electric forces, then primarily  gravitational, which are exerted between its components! 

 Thus let us see that of a little near, and profit to immediately locate  the size of these forces, that never more we will not have to forget.   

 Each one knows that a metal is " conductive good " of electricity,  whereas a plastic, for example, is excellent " insulating "!  Why this  difference? 

Well, in a metal, the electrons - these tiny negative charges,  light, leaping - can move very easily, under least requests  : it is the usual " electrical current " !  Conversely, in an insulator, the electrons remain obstinately hung to  their atom, not being able of this fact of transporting of " current "  from a place to another.  

 What means these words then:  " intensity ", " ampere "?   Exactly the equivalent of the flow of a control, water, gas,  expressed in litres a second for example.  But here, it will be about the quantity of negative electric charges,  therefore number of electrons, which pass to each second in an  unspecified point of a conducting circuit, just like besides the "  flow " of water in  a pipe. 

 The unit of load is called " Coulomb ", and it was decided that if in  a point of a circuit it passes to each second one " Coulomb ", the flow -  here one will speak about intensity - will be " one ampere ". 

 Therefore a driver crossed by a current of one ampere, " will then see "  a  negative charge of 1 Coulomb passing to each second in  unspecified of its points. 

Very well, will you say to me, but we would be curious to know how  much that, made electrons in promenade ? 

 .. A true statement : tremendously !!   You want to  know how much?  Then see

 1 Coulomb = 6 X 1.000.000.000.000.000.000 of electronic  charges, is thus 6 billions of billion:  I had said it to you, that made  really much . 

 An ampere is thus many electrons, but however a weak current : just  what to recharge the battery of your video camera!  And yet...... 

 Now let us imagine a theoretically possible experiment, perfectly rigorous but alas completely unrealisable with our  means. 

 Let us imagine that we succeed in gathering - what already  would hardly be convenient - two small " packages " of electrons, each  package containing a charge of one Coulomb, very modest compared with that of a  stormy cloud for example. 

 Then let us try to place our two packages of electrons at one  meter one above the other or one beside the other. Of course, because of this fundamental law imposed by nature  on their birth, our electrons between them, as well as the two  packages, will be pushed back, such of the enemy brothers. 

I told you the vastness of the electric forces:  here is measurement, verifiable and always verified :  our two  packages will be pushed back with a force close to a million  tons... 

 If, for example, you hung the first package of electrons to a (solid) gantry, and that you want " to suspend " the second  package with one meter below the first, the " cable " of suspension  will have to support the equivalent of 10 large aircraft carriers or 3  giant tankers! 

 Then, what do you think of the electric forces?! 

 

 I now will give you the example of a natural phenomenon well-known, and always not appreciated besides, where such forces, settings  really concerned, explain the effects observed:  it is the storm and  more particularly the lightning.   The latter is indeed  nothing other that a package of electrons whose dimension is about a  few centimetres;  it transports a charge of a few tens of coulombs,  driven out original cloud by the enormous accumulation of identical  charges which precisely constitute the stormy structure.   But  we will further have the occasion to speak again about it. 

 

Thus let us return to our individual charges and  point out the two completely fundamental properties who organized any  matter: 

1 - Two charges of " same sign ", two positive protons, like  two negative electrons, is pushed back more and more vigorously, when  their distance decreases.   When the distance is divided by 2,  the force is multiplied by 4;  when the distance is divided by 10, the  force is multiplied by 100.   It is said whereas " the force  is inversely proportional to the square of the distance ".    It is a law which thus leads to gigantic forces when the distance  between the charges becomes very small.   Only one load present  in an unspecified place will be able to thus act on all the charges present in the space, therefore far which they can be... and  reciprocally of course.   At this force everywhere presents  and able to be exerted on a charge as on the preceding " package ", one  gave the name of " electric field ".   And its law of  variation is obviously that of the force :  double the distance, it  is divided by 4;  multiply the distance by 10, it is divided by 100.   Thus goes the electric field .

2 -  With the reverse of the identical charges, two  charges of " contrary sign ", a positive proton and a negative electron,  attract each other mutually more and more vigorously when their  distance decreases, and of course less and less when their distance  increases!  The force (and the field) are divided by 4 when the  distance is doubled and it is multiplied by 100 when the distance is  divided by 10.   This force of attraction thus obeys  the same law that the force of repulsion, varies very quickly  with the distance and conduit to gigantic forces of attraction when  the distance is very small. 

 And now, an atom of hydrogen, it is what? 

  Question for question,  what is a sling? 

 Approximately, a stone at the end of a lace, held well by  that which makes turn stone quickly.   One sees the lace then  being tightened and provided that the stone turns rather quickly, it  can indifferently do it in a horizontal, oblique, or vertical plane! 

 

Here (about) an atom of hydrogen:  the stone which  turns, it is the electron, while you who maintain it on his  trajectory, you are (or rather your hand) the proton, the " core " of  the atom;  as for the force which maintains stone around you, it is  the tension exerted by the lace, equivalent to the electric force of  attraction:  without it,  or if you cut the lace, the "  stone-electron " will slip by straight and you will not re-examine it  probably more ! 

 Only precaution, but completely essential, taken by nature:  to make so that the electron turns just at the good speed so that the  " centrifugal " force, which tends to move away it, balance exactly  electric attraction ! 

 Apparently, it is successful, and the hydrogen of the universe behaves  wisely, at least as a long time as one does not try to subtilise " his  " electron to him ! 

 Einstein often said:  " What is good for the gander is surely good for  goose."  It is fortunately the same in the small world of the atoms. 

When the core is weighed down, comprising 2, 3, to  92 protons (for uranium), an exactly equal number of  electrons will circulate around the core, in an extraordinary ballet  which was regulated meticulously when the spectacle started. 

 

 Thus for example, oxygen comprises a core containing 8  protons, around of which, in normal time, 8 electrons revolve wisely  ;  the nitrogen has a core with  7 protons, around  whose 7 electrons circulate not less wisely.  (Fig....)

 

 Let us notice again that the fundamental rule will be thus  complied with:  the matter of our universe, in its normal state, will  be electrically " neutral ", having an equal number of positive and  negative charges, and not being able - at least in the general  information of the cases - to be subjected to electric forces of  external origin.   All things considered, to have a stable  universe, balanced, it was necessary at all costs " to muzzle " this  electric force, by releasing the support a little if that became essential! 

 

Before further going, let us point out an  astonishing law concerning the constitution of the atoms and the  distribution of the electrons around the core:  in fact, as of the  first elements, the electrons are divided into successive " layers ",  the such onion skins.   All things considered, rather than to  pile up them on the same layer, by leaving an unutilised enormous  vacuum between them and the core, nature preferred as well as possible  to use the place it had;  it benefited from this advantageous  provision to equip the atoms with some additional properties,  extremely invaluable for the future. 

 One of these properties, undoubtedly remarkable, is the  irresistible tendency which have all the atoms, when that their is  possible, to surround by the last layer of electrons, most external,  comprising 8 electrons, not one moreover, not one of less!  For the  solid elements, it will not be easy, except for some atoms such  carbon, silicon, suitably associated. 

On the other hand, the gas elements will reach that point by  a means as old as the world:  by sharing their " resources " in  electrons " Lends to me two electrons, I will lend  to you two electrons" ! 

 

 Thus will make oxygen, as the figure (very) diagrammatic shows it  table N°  VII.   Thus will make in the same way  nitrogen, chlorine and some other atoms with which definitely  loneliness is unbearable! 

Table 7

 And do you know how one names such an association, completely stable  and, would dare one to say, happy to live?  Quite simply a molecule! 

 Then, more surprise:  composed primarily of oxygen and nitrogen, our  atmosphere thus sees these two gases present in their " molecular "  form. 

 Of course, two different atoms can join (by " lending itself "  electrons) to also constitute beautiful and good molecule from which  the properties will be however always completely different from those  of the atoms which constitute it! 

 And then, my faith, why not?  3, 4... 10,100, of the thousands of  assembled atoms would constitute as many molecules with their  structures, their properties, variables besides ad infinitum, which  would leave with nature any freedom exert  an  imagination.....of which we are one of the fruits ! 

But let us return now to simple molecules, with 2  identical atoms, since it is precisely those which constitute this  atmosphere which is the object of our concerns. 

 We know that in its normal state - the physicists say "  fundamental " - atom or molecule is neutral electrically. 

 What will it occur then if an external cause causes either the profit,  or the loss by " wrenching " , of one or several electrons?  Of course,  the atom or the molecule thus modified cease at once  to be neutral electrically: 

 - the " profit " of one or several electrons confers a  surplus negative charge systematically:  it is said that one obtained  a " negative ion "; 

 - the loss of one or several electrons results in the absence of  neutralization of the corresponding positive charges of the core;  the  atom or the molecule thus treated has the corresponding surplus  positive charge now.   It is said that one obtained a " positive  ion ". 

 Thus, a " ion " is nothing other than an atom or a molecule which  gained or lost one or more electrons.  Table N°  VIII  illustrates this. 

Table 8

 But then, attention with the consequences!...Generally, the neutral atom or molecule was unaware of the electric forces,  remaining wisely where it was! 

Charge carrier, our ions could be subjected to  electric forces, in particular coming from their own mutual influence;  if nothing retains them where they are, they will be put at once  moving, in order to as fast as possible deviate from/to each other  since they carry the same charge . 

 Thus, if they are in the vicinity of the same charges signs,  they will tend to flee them. 

 But if they are in the vicinity of charges of contrary sign,  they will tend to join them and " to neutralize them ". 

Of course, these positive or negative ions could  also be captured and will undoubtedly be it by the small or large  particles present in the atmosphere according to a studied mechanism  of long date by the physicists:  the effect " of electric image ".   The micropolluants will obviously not escape this phenomenon  and I do not need to insist that you deeply imagine the consequences  of this capture on the behaviour deeply upset of these micropolluants;    the inevitable additional effects resulting from the presence of an  electric charge will be able then to be fully exerted;  furthermore,   such effects, as well physical as biological, will be often very  different according to the sign from the acquired charge.

It will then remain to ask us which precise causes are  responsible for the transformation of an atom or a molecule into a  charged ion, mechanism called " ionization ".   Concerning  gases of the atmosphere, we will see that these causes are varied, but  that they always lead to the same result:  for a long time to ensure  within this atmosphere the permanent presence of the essential electric charges , already present when the life appeared on our ground, and  which did not cease any more accompanying it and to take part in it.