the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
The mechanism of spray electrification: the waterfall effect
James K. Beattie
Abstract. The waterfall effect describes the separation of charge by splashing at the base of a waterfall. Smaller drops that have a net negative charge are created, while larger drops and/or the bulk maintain overall charge neutrality with a net positive charge. Since it was first described by Lenard (1892) the effect has been confirmed many times, but a molecular explanation has not been available. Application of our fluctuation-correlation model of hydrophobic hydration accounts for the negative charge observed at aqueous interfaces with low permittivity materials. The negative surface charge observed in the waterfall effect is created by the preferential adsorption of hydroxide ions generated from the autolysis of water. On splashing, shear forces generate small negative drops from the surface, leaving a positive charge on the remaining large fragment. The waterfall effect is a manifestation of the general phenomenon of the negative charge at the interface between water and hydrophobic surfaces that is created by the preferential adsorption of hydroxide ions.
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James K. Beattie


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RC1: 'Referee report', Anonymous Referee #3, 05 Jul 2016
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AC1: 'Reply to Refere #3', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016
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AC1: 'Reply to Refere #3', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016
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RC2: 'Referee comment', Anonymous Referee #4, 18 Aug 2016
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AC2: 'Reply to Referee #4', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016
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AC2: 'Reply to Referee #4', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016


-
RC1: 'Referee report', Anonymous Referee #3, 05 Jul 2016
-
AC1: 'Reply to Refere #3', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016
-
AC1: 'Reply to Refere #3', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016
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RC2: 'Referee comment', Anonymous Referee #4, 18 Aug 2016
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AC2: 'Reply to Referee #4', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016
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AC2: 'Reply to Referee #4', James Beattie, 20 Sep 2016
James K. Beattie
James K. Beattie
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