The Electrostatic Series
Name: _______________________
Date: ________________________
You can use a list called the electrostatic series to determine the kind of electric charge produced on
each substance when any two substances on the list are rubbed together.
When charging by friction occurs, the substance higher in the list (e.g. acetate) always loses electrons
and becomes positively charged, while the substance lower on the list (e.g. silk) gains those same
electrons and becomes negatively charged.
MATERIAL
acetate
glass
CHARGE TENDENCY
(+ ve)
Weak hold on electrons
wool
calcium, magnesium, lead
silk
aluminum, zinc
cotton
ebonite
Increasing tendency to
gain electrons
cat’s hair, human hair
polyethylene ( plastic )
carbon, copper, nickel
rubber
sulfur
platinum, gold
Strong hold on electrons
(― ve)
Check your understanding
1. If a material has gained electrons, it is ________________ charged
2. If a material has lost electrons, it is ______________ charged
3. When materials are rubbed together to create static charge, is it the electrons that ,move or the
protons?
4. For each of the following, state which becomes positive and which becomes negative after
charging by friction:
a. rubber and silk
c. rubber and wool
b. silk and cat’s hair
d. cotton and acetate