Chemistry reality check

[ffutures]

On re-reading the Ceres adventure I'm a little concerned about one aspect of the science I described.

For various reasons I needed a way to transfer large quantities of electrostatic charge in a tunnel system filled with a water-ammonia mix - basically, bits of the interior act somewhat like a Van de Graaff generator, causing some interesting problems for the adventurers. Conductivity of that mixture is low, but it does let a little electricity through.

The way I had this working was that one of the byproducts of native life was "droplets" of a silicone compound that had the interesting property of absorbing charge and storing it inside the droplets. If the surface of the droplet is damaged the charge is released. Each droplet only carres a teeny charge, but there are a LOT of them.

It's a hell of a hand wave, but does it sound even vaguely plausible?

If not, anyone got any better suggestions?

Comments

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

You know, seeing the name of the generator actually spelt right doesn't half look odd to a prog rock lover. Peter Hammill, you have a lot to answer for...

[gbsteve.livejournal.com]

Charge tends to stay on the outside of conductors so you need something to convey it inside. That said, there could be a chemical reaction that solidifies the droplet behind a non-conducting surface so that the charge is stored inside. A bit like those chemical lights that work when you break them. Just call it a photoplastic and handwave the rest. It would be cool if it all lit up in a pale green light when discharging.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

I went with blue, actually. Thanks!

[draconin.livejournal.com]

You know those pictures of spider webs festooned with droplets of dew? How about making the life form a spider analogue, put the charged droplets on the web, and discharge via the web strands? It would give you an easy way to get the charge to go where you want it to.

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Underwater?

[draconin.livejournal.com]

Ah. A small hole in the idea I admit! I hadn't read the entry with enough attention. *g*