Friday, September 13, 2013

The Illusion of Solidity

     Everything we see including solid structures are in a constant state of vibration, this is due to subatomic particles called electrons. The electrical charge of electrons are negative. Protons have a positive electrical charge. The chemical make up of each structure is dictated by the variations of the charges between electrons and protons. 

     Water for instance contains both Hydrogen and Oxygen. Hydrogen has one proton, and possibly one neutron, it depends. Oxygen however is quite different than hydrogen, the reason for that is the number of protons. For instance, Oxygen has eight protons. Protons and electrons are the reason why there are different structures. Atomic structures make up molecules and so they make up structures that are in different states of matter.

     In a solid structure, the molecules are closer together and give this structure it's solid appearance. In a liquid structure, like water for instance, the molecules can allow for other structures to pass through it. In a gas structure, the molecules are far enough apart and are at a low enough concentration that the structure of a gas itself appears invisible to us. We know Oxygen is there when we run fast, jump or move around. Oxygen at room temperature is a gas and this allows us to breathe it.

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