Q. Why do we experience a distinctive smell whenever there is an electric spark?
Ans. When there is an electric spark we experience a distinctive smell which is the smell of ozone gas. Actually, the electric spark causes the breakdown of the oxygen molecules present in air. These split oxygen atoms then recombine to form ozone gas which has a strong characteristic odor. Similar smell can be experienced after a thunderstorm because the lightning produced during a thunderstorm is also a kind of spark which causes the breakdown of air.
