[Chemistry4me (OP)]

What will happen to the stuff inside a plasma ball if you broke it?  []
Would it be dangerous if you did break it?  []

[Karen W.]

I think they have gas of sorts in them.. . I don't know though if it would harm you.. I don't think so though.. you would think it wouldn't be enough to cause any harm if it broke...

[Chemistry4me (OP)]

So basically: nothing?

[Don_1]

They are filled with Helium & Neon to a pressure of less than 0.1 atmospheres, so it would implode and the gases would do no harm.

[Chemistry4me (OP)]

How do they make the plasma?

[Karen W.]

They are cool.. I always wanted one of those things.. I have only seen a few!

[Don_1]

Probably find 100's on eBay Karen.

C4M - I have an answer for your question, I don't know!!! Not an entirely satisfactory answer I'll admit, but honest!

[Chemistry4me (OP)]

You can probably buy thousands of them with some of Don_1's prize money. []

[Don_1]

You can probably buy thousands of them with some of Don_1's prize money. []

It's all mine I tell you, you'er getting none of it, it's in my wallet and it's staying there!!!

[lyner]

A low pressure gas is very easy to ionise with a modest few hundred volts (that's all a plasma is) - particlularly if you use a radio frequency signal to help it along. The plasma balls are not much different from flourescent tubes.

[shockwavemikey65]

They are cool.. I always wanted one of those things.. I have only seen a few!

lol I work here! [O8)]
[Sorry - advertising link removed. Mod]

[exton]

So basically: nothing?

Nothing.

But...

If you take out the electronics inside, you'll see that there's a wire going into the metal ball from a transformer. Turn on the electronics, and you can do all sorts of fun stuff with that wire.

Well, not all sorts...really just electrocuting stuff. You can produce short electrical arcs (like the plasma in the globe, only more...yellow) in open air.

No, it's not at a few hundred volts. They're actually at many thousands of volts, and a few milliamps. So be very careful! The eletronics inside might burn stuff or stop your heart. It's not dangerous as long as it's inside the globe, though; you won't be able to produce open air arcs through the glass that encases the metal ball.

[Chemistry4me (OP)]

Thank you. I'll remember that for next time. []