Question #b9584
1 Answer
This simple process is a physical change; the end product is identical to the original components, and no new compounds have been formed. Glowing lights are our vision of energy, resulting in plasma.
Explanation:
Colorful, glowing lights allow us to view and experience in a small tunnel of energy called visible light, some of the huge array of energy transmissions and transformations that are occurring around us (and through us) continuously.
The glowing filament is an easy to view example of electrons and ions in atoms excited by high energy into a plasma state, similar to those in the atmosphere that collide with air molecules to produce lightning.
While this physical change is occurring in the excitation of the electrons, the metal wire of the filament only provides a path for the conduction and heating of the electrons, so it does not change other than a slight thermal expansion, and in some cases the coils may unwind towards the bulb's end of life.
While a perfect vacuum is impossible in manufacture of bulbs, most will burn out due to vibration breaking the filament, long before any chemical change.
Plasma is here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_%28physics%29
