Matter is made up of molecules, which consist of atoms with negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons. Normally, the number of protons in an atom is the same as that of electrons, with a positive-negative balance, so it appears uncharged. However, electrons coil around the nucleus and will be off-track upon external forces. It departs from the original atom and intrudes into atom B. Atom A is positive charged due to the lack of electrons, which is called cation, while atom B is negatively charged due to the increase of electrons, which is called anion.
The reasons for the imbalanced electronic distribution is that the electrons get out of orbit by an external force, including various energies (such as kinetic energy, potential energy, thermal energy, chemical energy...) On the average day, any two objects of different materials touch and leave, and static electricity will be released.
In case of two different objects touch each other, one object will lose some charges, such as electrons transfer to the other object to make it positively charged, while the other will get some remaining electrons and be negatively charged. If the charge is difficult to neutralize in the process of separation, it will accumulate and make the object electrostatic. So the object will be charged with static electricity after touching and separating from other objects. Generally, when a plastic film is peeled off from an object, it is a typical “touch separation” electrification. In daily life, the static electricity caused by undressing is also “touch separation” electrification.
Solids, liquids, and even gases will be charged with static electricity by touch separation. Why do gases also develop static electricity? Because gas is also made up of molecules and atoms, when the air is active, the molecules and atoms will also “touch separation” and become charged. In our surroundings and even in our bodies, there will be different levels of static electricity, and when static electricity accumulates to a certain extent, it will be discharged.
We all know collision electrification, and little talk of touch electrification. In essence, collision electrification is a process in which positive and negative charges are imbalanced by touch and separation. Conflict is a process of constant touch and separation, so collision electrification is essentially touch separation electrification. On normal days, all kinds of objects may have static electricity as a result of movement or conflict, such as work desktop, floor, chair, clothes, paper, files, packaging materials, and active air.
Another common type of electrification is induced electrification. When a charged object approaches an uncharged object, a negative charge and a positive charge are induced at the two ends of the uncharged conductor.
