Reactions

Imagine this.  You are sitting at a simple, rough table in Democritus’ home, enjoying the smell of bread filling the air.  It is a pleasant moment, except for the annoying fact that Dustin keeps asking when the bread will be ready.  

Something Democritus said before is sticking in your mind, and you ask a question about it.  “You said that sometimes you mix two things together, and they react to each other, and that the reaction can reveal the personality of the atoms in those things.  What did you mean by that?”

Democritus thinks for a moment, and then says, “Isn’t it true that you don’t always know someone’s true personality until you have seen them interacting in a group, or seen them react to a challenging situation?”  

You are noticing that Democritus doesn’t always answer questions directly.

Democritus continues, “A person can seem very calm and caring until they miss a couple of meals, and then all of a sudden they are grumpy and angry.”  Democritus looks at Dustin as he says this.

“Kind of like the people of Abdera when you were younger,” you say.  “They probably seemed kind and caring when you were young and rich, but then things changed and they wanted to punish you.”

“Yes, I suppose that is a good example,” Democritus agrees.  “I think it is similar with atoms.  Like people, these ingredients in front of us may reveal little while they remain alone and undisturbed.  This salt, this flour, they rest quietly in their cups.  You can examine them, touch them, smell them, yet still fail to discover some of their most important properties.  But sometimes, when you bring two materials into contact with each other, something special might happen.  A reaction of some kind.  And that reaction can reveal something about the atoms in those materials that simple observation could not.”

Dustin nods his head as Democritus speaks, but then interjects with a question.  “What is a reaction, really?”

Democritus seems surprised that Dustin was listening.  “That is a good question.  Have you taken a break from worrying about the bread?”

“I was wondering if the bread is a reaction,” Dustin responds.

“That makes more sense,” Democritus says, smirking.  Then he continues, “It is a good question, and it deserves a thoughtful answer.  Let’s say that a reaction is when two materials mix in a way that produces change.”

“Okay,” you say slowly, not sure that clarifies everything.  “But what is actually happening when they mix?  What is causing the change?”

Democritus takes a handful of olives from a jar and places them in a group on the table before you.  “This is a group of atoms,” Democritus says.  Then he takes a handful of nuts from another jar and places those in a group off to the side of the olives.  “This is a group of a different kind of atom.”  Then he looks up at you.  “Now, I don’t know for sure how a reaction occurs, but I picture it working in this way.”  He slides the two groups toward each other until they meet in the center of the table.  “Here are the two materials coming into contact with each other, and mixing with each other.”  Then he begins to pull new groups from the big mix, groups of two olives and one nut, other groups of three nuts and two olives.  “When the materials meet, perhaps some of the atoms separate from their old partners and begin joining with other partners.”

“So the atoms switch teams,” Dustin says.

“Sure, that is one way to put it,” Democritus agrees.  “They form new partnerships and turn into new materials.  The atoms themselves have not been destroyed, but their arrangements have changed.  Since the new partnerships are different from the old ones, they will have different properties—different personalities—from the original partnerships.  They will behave in new ways.  We will see new and different materials before us, acting in new and different ways.”

Dustin nudges two of the groups together.  “Do all reactions make a big change?”

“No.  Some are subtle, and you may not notice them.  Others may involve changes too small for your eyes to see clearly.  But sometimes, I have seen reactions that can be quite beautiful, and some that have been quite dramatic and violent.”

Dustin looks up.  “Those are probably the most fun.”

Democritus chuckles.  “I can’t disagree with that.”