Soot Formation Discovery (IMAGE)

DOE/Sandia National Laboratories

Soot Formation Discovery

Caption

Scientists have discovered a mechanism for soot formation, solving a longstanding scientific mystery. In this image of a candle flame, the colors are from hot soot luminescence. The mass spectrum at the bottom shows the peaks for the radicals that drive reaction. The incipient particle (lower drawing) is the cluster that marks a transition to the condensed phase. Fast reactions grow the particle (upper drawing). 1 nm =1 nanometer=10-9 meters

Credit

Hope Michelsen

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