Look My Hand Is In the Wall....

[Catharsis]

Hi....

 

I’m just thinking that if atoms arrange themselves with each other by exchanging electrons (no?)....

 

Then what makes them distinguish between each other? Meaning why don’t the atoms of my hand (whatever they may accumulatively be) mix with the atoms of a wall, as I lean up against it?

 

Any suggestion, comments and opinions are appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance....

[zule]

Atoms are arranged in molecules and these are in turn arranged in macromolecules and so on successively in more complex structures in a way they have the minimum energy. So, it is necessary a big amount of energy to destroy all these structures and so get the atoms free to recombine in other way, which always will be the one of minimum energy again at the end.

 

Any way, I think that this post should be in “Physics”, where I am sure somebody would explain it much better.

[insane_alien]

to do that your hand would have to chemically react with the wall.

 

as people would likely complain if they melded to the wall every time they touched it we tend to not use materials where that would happen.

[Klaynos]

On a very simple level, the electrons on the outside of your hand repel the electrons on the outside of the wall...

[Psycho]

On a very simple level, the electrons on the outside of your hand repel the electrons on the outside of the wall...

You say on very simple terms and I know what you mean, but the atoms would never get close enough to repel each other with any significant force would they?

[ydoaPs]

Hi....

 

I’m just thinking that if atoms arrange themselves with each other by exchanging electrons (no?)....

 

Then what makes them distinguish between each other? Meaning why don’t the atoms of my hand (whatever they may accumulatively be) mix with the atoms of a wall, as I lean up against it?

 

Any suggestion, comments and opinions are appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance....

 

Electrons in atoms/molecules are usually bound(apart from valence electrons), so you would need energy to free them.

[Klaynos]

You say on very simple terms and I know what you mean, but the atoms would never get close enough to repel each other with any significant force would they?

 

What then stops your hand moving threw the wall?

[Psycho]

What then stops your hand moving threw the wall?

That the wall doesn't chemically react with your hand as it is in macromolecules.

 

You would have to exceed the activation energy of the reaction.

[insane_alien]

but it does actually get close enough. for pure electrostatic repulsion. thats what it is. and if you want to get a bit more advanced, the pressure is formed because you deform the orbitals slightly.

[Catharsis]

Electrons in atoms/molecules are usually bound (apart from valence electrons), so you would need energy to free them.

 

Hi...

 

Well, more specifically, I was wondering what was it that would keep (let’s say hypothetically speaking - meaning, just grabbing two elements off the “table” at random) Thulium from “joining” with Polonium (hoping they don’t mix in the first place).

 

Because I just wasn’t sure if it was all based on the electron “make up” per atom or is there some other “discriminating” factor (or force) that would keep and or allow different atoms to stay apart or join {other than the electron formation}.

 

Because if it was just the electron “make up” (formation) it would seem that you could “force fit” some of the bad boy’s (atoms) together by taking away or adding some of there electrons (maybe some how).... And if you did would they bond?

 

However I know about them just not spinning in a circle - they can spin in “shapes” spending more time on one side than the other etc.... (not to mention this business of “string” theory they got going on). So I can imagine the “compatibility” issues from having it be just the electron formation.

 

So in closing - I was just wondering if maybe there was still something else other than the electrons that “tied” everything together or kept them apart?

[insane_alien]

nope, purely electrons. pauli exclusion principle does a lot for repelling other atoms. it basically says two electrons of the same spin cannot occupy the same orbital and so on.

 

although, with metals the can sort of join on like you say, its called cold welding but it will only happen if you produce the metals in a vacuum or inert atmosphere and touch them together in a similar environment. this doesn't happen normally because a small chemically inert oxide layer forms when it is in the atmosphere.

[Catharsis]

Yea - wow - how interesting....

 

To think, that the only thing that separates the atoms of our body from the atoms of the air from the atoms of the wall are the “formations” of the electrons...

 

It makes me realize that there’s no in between stuff going on - meaning: that there are various “rather” large “demarcation” areas. Like life and it’s atoms are done in batches rather than a gradual scale....

 

I don’t know if it means anything - but it’s a point...

 

Thanks for all the input... It’s funny how all of a sudden something so complicated can have a very basic side to it....