Ojas in wonderland of science Part -6

When Ojas told Ketan about the teaching lessons given to atoms in the magic science school, Ketan got really interested in the story. He said “ Oh! It makes some sense. We find many gas atoms like oxygen, nitrogen as molecules of two atoms. But iron and manganese can remain as separate atoms but united together.”

 Ojas asked “ Why they can’t move away from each other?” 

Ketan  told Ojas “Actually there is attraction between any two materials with mass. If they are nearer the force of attraction is more.So atoms remain together by such attraction. It is the same gravitational force that keeps them together.”

Ketan said to Ojas,” I think, I should also visit your science magic school. I am interested to find out about origin of atoms from energy.”

 Ojas was very glad. He said “ You are most welcome. I shall call  you in my dream. But you should also dream like me about the magic science school.” Ketan said, “ I shall try “.

Ofcourse Ketan forgot the conversation and was busy in reading some other books.

 In the dream, when Ojas called Ketan, he could not find Ketan. Ojas decided to go alone. He wanted to visit middle school where atoms are taught how to form molecules. 

 He went to the other building. He saw that atoms were asked to use their electrons for combining with other atoms in a different ways. There were mainly three types.

 Some atoms were asked to donate their electron or electrons to other atoms who are in need of electrons. Donation of electron made them positively charged, whereas the atoms receiving extra electrons from others became negatively charged. Naturally there was attraction between them.

He saw how Sodium and Chlorine did this. As soon as they combined the lost their original properties and became a new compound with different properties. 

He typed on the tab. “ What is this?” Tab answered “ It is common salt.” Ojas  typed “ What is the name for this type of bond?” Tab answered “ It is called as ionic bond. This allows them to move separately in water solution carrying electric charge. They are called as cations and anions. ” Ojas said “ Oh. I know now. These ions help in producing electricity in battery”

There was other type of molecule making that ojas observed. In this the atoms were asked to share their  electrons with others. The shared electrons made rounds of both the atoms and kept them neutral.

Ojas liked the idea of sharing rather giving it altogether. When you share something with others that friendship becomes more strong and everlasting. Tab gave information that these are called Covalent bonds.

 Ojas asked tab “ Can you give some example? “

Tab said “ Why not? Look at the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. Two hydrogen atoms are sharing their single electrons with oxygen who needs two electrons to fill up its outer orbit. And due to such sharing water molecule is formed.”

When Ojas was seeing formation of water molecules, he noticed a peculiar thing. These water molecules were turning and rearranging themselves such that hydrogen atom of one molecule becomes nearer to oxygen atom of othe water molecule. Ojas asked tab about such strange behavior of molecules.

 Tab answer flashed on the screen “ This molecule though neutral still has minute +ve charge near hydrogen atom and –ve charge near oxygen atom. The attraction between +ve and –ve charges of water molecules causes such rearrangement. The bond between H and O is very weak and is called Hydrogen bond. It can be broken by increased vibration of atoms due to temperature rise.“

Ojas said “ Oh! Now I understood. Ionic and covalent bonds are the main bonds and hydrogen bond is not of any importance” Tab said. “ What you say is right for inorganic compounds but these hydrogen bonds are very important in building large organic molecules”

Ojas asked “ Is it so?”

 Tab said “ Yes. This molecule building is not taught in the this middle school. For such synthesis they require special environment. Hence this part is taught in college of biochemistry. We send water and carbon di oxide molecules and some other bright atoms like nitrogen, sulpher and phospherous to that college which is in the science city.”

Ojas was satisfied. He learned a lot of chemistry about inorganic molecules.