more on this theme | more from this thinker | more from this text
Full Idea
A central mystery of chemistry is how the elements survive in the compounds they form. For example, how can poisonous grey metal sodium combine with green poisonous gas chlorine, to make salt, which is non-poisonous and essential for life?
Gist of Idea
How can poisonous elements survive in the nutritious compound they compose?
Source
Eric R. Scerri (The Periodic Table [2007], Intro 'Elem')
Book Ref
Scerri,Eric R.: 'The Periodic Table' [OUP 2007], p.-6
A Reaction
A very nice question which had never occurred to me. If our digestive system pulled the sodium apart from the chlorine, we would die.