Posted: Jul 20, 2013 5:52 pm
romansh wrote:It would be really hard (torturous) to explain chemical reactions in terms of neutrons .... we would not even do it in terms of protons. Chemistry is about electron exchange. Take hydrogen and deuterium ... a significant difference in relative masses yet the redox potentials are similar ... 0.00 V for hydrogen and -0.044 V for deuterium.
I would love to see a Pourbaix diagram using 'neutrons' instead of chemical potentials!
To be fair I did learn about nuclear chemistry in a chemistry class at high school. But I can't help thinking a better title for your thread might be neutron physics.
Now I think, we can see what a curious conceptual cake Chemistry is.
Chemistry is a description of the behaviour of atomic particles and their macro-structures - but only certain particles and structures at certain temperatures, and often only regarding certain structures relevant to life-forms.
As such, chemistry is a mix of topics taken from nuclear physics, mechanical engineering, and bio-sciences. And unlike nuclear physics, there is no single principle that holds the science of Chemistry together. Don't I bloody know it mate. I was one of their followers for a number of years. Ah, those heady days. Good to move on though.
This is why I suggest building the periodic table based on neutrons is a good exercise for the mind. More than any other development in Chemistry, it is the periodic table that can prevent us from seeing Chemistry in the larger scheme of things.
Building a neutron-based periodic table would be a fascinating exercise for schoolkids and would free people up from the idea that Chemistry is a single conceptual topic. I think that deserves top marks.