Gas is colorless and basically invisible from the naked eye. What’s the wavy-gas that we see in extreme heats?

Question

Gas is colorless and basically invisible from the naked eye. What’s the wavy-gas that we see in extreme heats?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

It’s the air being heated. Gas might be transparent, but it is still a solid medium that light passes through. When the air is hot enough, it begins to rise rapidly from the surface. This significant disturbance causes the light passing though it to become distorted. Think how when water is clear and undisturbed it’s easy to see though it, but when it’s disturbed the ripples bend light. Same principle.