# How electroconductive is semen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 23, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093 "2014-05-23T15:28:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/1 "2014-05-23T15:28:50Z")
See subject. I have my reasons. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/2 "2014-05-23T16:09:04Z")
I’m sure you do. ---
**Author:** ![awldune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@awldune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/awldune)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/3 "2014-05-23T16:27:18Z")
Should be relatively easy to test by using a multimeter on the ohmmeter setting. Then you could compare with a fluid of known electroconductivity (e.g., saline solution of a given concentration). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/4 "2014-05-23T16:59:28Z")
I hope you’ve not misinterpreted the function of a wall jack. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/5 "2014-05-23T17:52:08Z")
or the definition of a load ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/6 "2014-05-23T19:15:57Z")
```auto {X = X_L - X_C = \omega L -\frac {1} {\omega C}} where {X_C} is the capacitive reactance, measured in ohms {X_L} is the inductive reactance, measured in ohms omega is the angular frequency, 2\pi times the frequency in Hz ``` The last line is most relevant. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/7 "2014-05-23T19:46:10Z")
So the answer depends on how much it Hertz? Whoa! Trying for a serious answer \… From : [Qualitative Analysis of Human Semen Using Microwaves](http://piers.org/piersonline/download.php?file=MDUwNTE3MTMxMDM5fFZvbDJObzFQYWdlMTEwdG8xMTQucGRm) pdf link > [@](#): > > …The present paper reports dielectric properties of semen at microwave frequencies as well as the quantitative analysis in the clinical laboratory. It is observed that conductivity of semen depends upon the motility of sperm as well as the time elapses after ejaculation. Dielectric constant varied on their samples from a low of 10.11 to a high of 13.92 depending upon time since sample collection and frequency used in their Cavity Perturbation Technique (insert joke here) using a transmission type S-band rectangular cavity resonator, HP 8714 ET network analyser. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/8 "2014-05-23T19:58:30Z")
“It’s alive, it’s alive, it’s alive! IT’S ALIVE!” ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/9 "2014-05-23T20:27:32Z")
It’s salty, right? (So I’ve heard) Salt in liquid = lots of mobile ions = fairly conductive. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/10 "2014-05-23T21:40:28Z")
Semen is about isotonic with plasma, so about 1% NaCl equivalent. [CRC gives conductivity of 1% salt](http://sites.chem.colostate.edu/diverdi/all_courses/CRC%20reference%20data/electrical%20conductivity%20of%20aqueous%20solutions.pdf) as 16 milliSiemens per centimeter. A milliSiemen is is just a milliMho, inverse milliOhm, with a more subject compatible name. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/11 "2014-05-23T23:22:24Z")
Let’s just say you shouldn’t put a toaster on my keyboard. ---
**Author:** ![Vicullum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@Vicullum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicullum)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/12 "2014-05-24T02:09:03Z")
Really? No one else is going to step up to the plate on this one? _Fine._ In the interest of science, I, shall we say, _procured_ a sample and measured its resistance using a multimeter. Holding the probes 1 cm apart in a fresh sample gave a reading of 54kΩ. I then measured again after 10 minutes and it actually increased to 64kΩ. As conductance is just the inverse of resistance, we average those numbers together, invert it, and you have your answer: 17 μS (microsiemens). ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/13 "2014-05-24T02:11:18Z")
Now can you cook it in a frying pan please and tell us how conductive it is afterwards? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/14 "2014-05-24T03:18:12Z")
> [@Vicullum](#): > > 17 μS ( **microsiemens** ). Doesn’t sound very impressive when you put it like that. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/15 "2014-05-26T01:51:35Z")
> [@drewtwo99](#): > > Now can you cook it in a frying pan please and tell us how conductive it is afterwards? And measure the conductivity of the fish after feeding. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/16 "2014-05-26T02:26:38Z")
What…no microsemens jokes? What is this board cumming to? ---
**Author:** ![CheshireKat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheshirekat/32/1207_2.png) [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/17 "2014-05-26T03:25:45Z")
This the man who put uranium ore in his pants, remember? [Experiment #1A](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=722915) Obviously he is researching the effects of various applications to his nether regions. It’s all very scientific. Perhaps he wants bright children with curly hair. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/18 "2014-05-26T03:37:46Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I hope you’ve not misinterpreted the function of a wall jack. ISTR that the Almighty became angry with Onan for spilling his seed on the ground, so I guess those three-fitting outlets are a biblically bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/19 "2014-05-26T05:35:39Z")
Next time, on _Mythbusters_… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093/20 "2014-05-26T19:51:35Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Vicullum** : > > Really? No one else is going to step up to the plate on this one? > > Fine. In the interest of science, I, shall we say, procured a sample and measured its resistance using a multimeter. Holding the probes 1 cm apart in a fresh sample gave a reading of 54kΩ. I then measured again after 10 minutes and it actually increased to 64kΩ. > > As conductance is just the inverse of resistance, we average those numbers together, invert it, and you have your answer: 17 μS (microsiemens). That’s not an answer to the question, since what you measured is a property of the sample, not of the substance. Yes, you measured the separation of your electrodes, and that’s important, but it also depends on the geometry of the sample. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-electroconductive-is-semen/689093.md?page=2)