B What is the reason for the Emergence of properties?

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The discussion revolves around the properties of water molecules compared to their constituent atoms, hydrogen and oxygen. Participants debate whether the unique properties of water are entirely new or if they were inherent in the individual atoms. The conversation touches on the concept of emergent properties, suggesting that compounds often exhibit different characteristics than the elements they are formed from. Experimental methods to distinguish between these possibilities are discussed, emphasizing the philosophical nature of the question when empirical tests are lacking. Ultimately, the dialogue highlights the complexity of defining emergent properties in both chemistry and physics.
  • #31
ZapperZ said:
I know that you are talking about just 3 atoms forming a molecule here, but maybe this is a good jumping point for you to discover another new aspect of our world that Phil Anderson touted many years ago: More Is Different.

I had put this aside to read & finally had a chance to do so. Much of it is over my head (I don't have the background necessary), but those parts of it I do understand seem well-argued and appealing. I had not heard of broken symmetry before. I also like Anderson's demonstrations that reductionism being true in one direction doesn't mean it's true in the other - i.e. that with a knowledge of fundamental laws and behaviors alone, we could derive all more complex systems.
 

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