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Single Idea 17470

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

Full Idea

Water's structure cannot simply be described as a collection of individual molecules. There is a continual dissociation of H2O molecules into hydrogen and hydroxide ions; they former larger polymeric species, explaining conductivity, melting and boiling.

Gist of Idea

Water molecules dissociate, and form large polymers, explaining its properties

Source

Weisberg/Needham/Hendry (Philosophy of Chemistry [2011], 4.5)

Book Reference

'Stanford Online Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Stanford University [plato.stanford.edu], p.29


A Reaction

[compressed] If philosophers try to state the 'essence of water', they had better not be too glib about it.