CHEMISTRY AND VALUES

Chemistry and values are interrelated. If you are able to read between the lines, the books on chemical concepts are not less than religious books and books teaching moral values.



First let us take the concept of bond formation. As per Valence Bond Theory, greater the overlap, greater the bond strength. Just ponder over this and you'll get a great philosophical theory to maintain friendship. You must understand that your life and your friend's life is overlapping. Greater is the similarity in nature, greater is the strength of bond of friendship. You must share happiness and sorrow together. You must share your choices and decisions. The sharing and caring makes the friendship everlasting.



While we discuss the bond formation, we find that first there is attraction between atoms. When atoms come close to each other under the attractive forces, repulsive forces start becoming influential. Until the atoms are close enough, repulsive forces do not remain operative. So we should learn from this that we do not quarrel with someone unknown to us. Conflicts do occur with them, with whom we have some kinds of relationships.So quarrels and fights may be a natural thing in friendship but attractive forces must not diminish under the effect of repusive forces.



The second law of thermodynamics says no machine, no reaction is 100% efficient. So why should we not understand that our friends are not always 100% devoted to us. Why should we not believe in give and take policy, as it happens during formation of electrovalent bond where electrons are lost and gained between two atoms and a strong bond is formed.



Chemistry gives us idea also about how many maximum close friends we can have. The order of a chemical reaction is generally found to be not more than three. The reason is that it is highly improbable to have simultaneous collisions of more than three chemical species. Similarly, it appears we can not have more than two very close friends.