Seraphim

Atoms and molecules held together by bonds between them, right?

Is it possible for us (in any possible ways - theorically or otherwise) to break this bonds?

If so, what will it take?

If cannot, tell me what stopping this bonds from breaking.

Thank You beforehand.


Oh ... If you wondering why I asked, I was watching this Japanese Anime - Rounin Kenshin and in one scene, there was this guy learning some movements from another monk-like guy.

The monk told the guy that everything around them (trees, rocks etc) was held together by invisible force (I persumed he meant the electromagnetic bonds between molecules) and by applying a certain amount of force, it is possible to break the bond and scatter the molecules.

Philosoft

Lots of things can break molecular bonds. I can break molecular bonds by breaking my Twinkie in half, or by pouring half my glass of water into the sink. This isn't really a controversial claim. Perhaps you are talking about something else?

Seraphim

by Philosoft

Lots of things can break molecular bonds. I can break molecular bonds by breaking my Twinkie in half, or by pouring half my glass of water into the sink. This isn't really a controversial claim. Perhaps you are talking about something else?

What I meant by breaking is by neutralizing the bonds between two molecules thus freeing it.

I meant breaking the bonds in terms of energy, NOT physical break like with your Twinkies.

In another word ... shatter your Twinkie into a few million pieces by dissolving the bonds which hold the molecules which makes up your Twinkie together. Is that possible?

Elvithriel

Breaking and reforming bonds is done all the time. Are you talking about something else?

nermal

No, it's not possible the way you describe. You can use other molecules to insinuate themselves into a compound and break the bonds ie. solvents, but you cannot simply neutralize the molecular bonds, as they are a result of the electrical charge disparity of the different atoms, thus a physical property of the atoms themselves.
However, you can use a "bullet" to shatter the atoms and thus change their physical properties. Slow and fast neutrons work well for this. Works best on pure elements, though, not molecular compounds. Greater target density.

Ed

Seraphim

by Elvithriel

Breaking and reforming bonds is done all the time. Are you talking about something else?

Yes, I'm talking about something else ... or rather in a more fine details about the breaking and reforming the bonds.

In a way, I'm trying to perfect my Dim Mak techniques using Science

by nermal

No, it's not possible the way you describe. You can use other molecules to insinuate themselves into a compound and break the bonds ie. solvents, but you cannot simply neutralize the molecular bonds, as they are a result of the electrical charge disparity of the different atoms, thus a physical property of the atoms themselves.

However, you can use a "bullet" to shatter the atoms and thus change their physical properties. Slow and fast neutrons work well for this. Works best on pure elements, though, not molecular compounds. Greater target density.

Finally ... someone who understood what I was trying to say ... I was running out of words and ways to describe down here ...

OK ... this is what I understood so far from your post ...

The reason why I cannot do it is because bonds which ties two atoms together is the result of their own structure ... Right?

Which means, if I want to dissolve the bonds, I have to change their structure which could accomplished by introducing Neutrons into them ... Right? I believe this is the way how Fusion works (or was it Fission?).

Now ... what about the Molecule? You said Greater target density ... which means ... what? The Molecule are too densed thus needs greater amount of energy to break?

Wounded King

It would depend what molecule in particular you were targetting. UV light can break molecular bonds in DNA, which is why it can cause cancer if you sunbathe too much. Heat can break a lot of molecular bonds. Lots of chemicals such as strong acids and alkalis can break molecular bonds as can enzymatic activity. Large enough molecules can be susceptible to mechanical disruption.

Cells can certainly be disrupted mechanically and mechanical force can obviously disrupt crystalline structures.

Your anime example sounds like the idea that if you can find the right vibrational frequency you can disrupt any form of matter.

nermal

Just so.

Even this wouldn't neutralize the bonds per se, the inherent electrical charge of the atoms would remain, they would just be different elements and form different bonds with other atoms.

By greater target density I meant you should have pure fissionable material ie U-235, and so you would not have a molecular compound like salt, or charcoal. You would have an element. Therefore, you would be more likely to hit a fissionable atom with the "bullet" or the thermal neutron.

You still aren't dissolving or neutralizing the capacity of atoms to bond molecularly by splitting them. You are putting enough energy into the atom to break the nuclear bonds, but the fission products will bond with other elements, or themselves.

I'm no chemist, but I think the only elements which don't bond are the Noble Gasses. I know of no way to take salt, for instance, and using a process, simply do away with the ability of the Sodium atoms to bond with the Chloride atoms.

Ed

Lobstrosity

I do...put the NaCl in water.

Yggdrasill

I'm relatively sure you can break just about any bond by introducing heat. If you heat a Twinkie bar to a few hundred billion degrees kelvin in an instant, it should explode quite violently. Doesn't any substance, if heated sufficiently, cause the substance to release all it's electrons, in other words, turn into plasma? And, if the atoms no longer have electrons, no electron based bonds can exist.

Of course, if you mean disrupting the bonds on a sub-atomic level, I don't know if heat would do the trick. I suppose it is possible to cause the atomic cores to shake themselves apart by heating them, but I think the temperature would have to be very high for that to happen.

Now, if you want to cause the atoms to implode, I know of no theorised method that would allow you to do that. (Do atoms implode in black holes? I suppose they do, but the energy is unable to escape. Energy has gravity, doesn't it? [/Random Thoughts])