Single Idea 17474

[catalogued under 27. Natural Reality / F. Chemistry / 1. Chemistry]

Full Idea

Quantum mechanics cannot tell us why a given collection of atoms will adopt one molecular structure (and set of chemical properties) or the other.

Gist of Idea

Quantum theory won't tell us which structure a set of atoms will form

Source

Weisberg/Needham/Hendry (Philosophy of Chemistry [2011], 6.1)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.35


A Reaction

Presumably it the 'chance' process of how the atoms are thrown together.

Related Idea

Idea 17473 It is unlikely that chemistry will ever be reduced to physics [Weisberg/Needham/Hendry]