No new creation or destruction of matter is within the…
“No new creation or destruction of matter is within the reach of chemical agency. We might as well attempt to introduce a new planet into the solar system, or to annihilate one already in existence, as to create or destroy a particle of hydrogen.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Chemical reactions cannot create or destroy matter; attempts to alter fundamental particles are as impossible as creating a planet.
In simple terms: Matter cannot be created or destroyed chemically.
Respect conservation laws.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- laboratory work
- industrial processes
- environmental policy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What are the practical implications?
- How does this shape modern chemistry?
Limits of chemical manipulation exist.