Chapter 430 One question shocked everyone! Why are the elements so colorful? The hope of chemistry lies in physics!
Today’s speech was originally just part of Li Qiwei’s trip to Germany.
Einstein invited him, and more importantly, many German physicists, to discuss the most cutting-edge issues.
To put it bluntly, the speech is just incidental.
After all, Professor Bruce’s speeches are famous and have an earth-shattering impact every time.
Come all come.
Not giving a speech would be a waste of precious opportunity.
So, today’s speech came about.
Moreover, modern physics has been developed for twenty years.
Many theories and concepts have been very in-depth.
It is difficult for an undergraduate student who has not received graduate training to understand what cutting-edge physics is researching.
Unlike in the early days, when the quantum concept was first proposed, everyone could have a few words.
Now, not many people present can fully understand the Bohr-Lee model.
This is why scientists become more conceited as they get to the back.
Because there are so few people who can understand each other.
Therefore, speeches for the public must not be too in-depth.
On the one hand, many people don’t understand.
On the other hand, it also has extremely demanding requirements on the speaker’s ability.
However, today, Li Qiwei still brought surprises and even shocks to everyone.
“Oh! God! Is there any major breakthrough in quantum theory?”
"I am a chemistry major, and I have been shocked many times."
"Since the birth of modern physics, chemistry has developed rapidly like a rocket."
"There are many things that could not be done before. All the problems we understand have been solved by physicists, and chemists have already picked them up.”
“What changes will Professor Bruce bring to chemistry?”
"I'm already looking forward to the next speech."
The big guys sitting in the front row also looked at each other.
There is only one common thought in their minds:
"Bruce is too good at causing trouble."
"Before the speech even started, he made shocking remarks and said harshly Captured everyone's heart."
The big guys are also looking forward to how the other party will use quantum theory to end the title of alchemist.
Li Qiwei looked at everyone's surprised expressions, smiled, and began to say:
"Chemistry is an ancient subject."
"Its development in the West has generally gone through the following stages: ”
“In ancient times, people developed chemical processes such as pottery, metallurgy, and dyeing.”
“They even mastered methods such as metal purification.”
"Of course these are not chemistry, they can only be called skills."
"But these skills laid the foundation for the emergence of chemistry."
"In the Middle Ages, people had a deep understanding of the material world. Exploring more deeply, chemical knowledge Knowledge gradually became intertwined with religion and philosophy."
"Alchemy became the mainstream during this period."
"The alchemists had two biggest goals: turning stone into gold and immortality. Elixir.”
"The former is to turn ordinary metals into gold through various chemical methods, such as calcination, dissolution, etc."
"The latter is to mix various substances in an attempt to create something that can make people live forever. The Pill of Agelessness ”
“The magic is. , these two goals are also mainstream in the East."
"Unfortunately, neither side succeeded in the end."
"Because although the alchemists at that time had a lot of chemical experience, they did not. Understand the nature of chemistry ”
"Unable to use rules to explain the discovered phenomena, it is naturally impossible to draw inferences from one instance."
"And their behavior has a strong religious color, which hinders scientific research."
"Until literature and art After the Restoration, Galileo established the modern It was not until the modern scientific system that chemistry became independent from religion."
"Chemists began to use experiments to study the structure and properties of matter."
"In the 17th century, Boyle proposed. The concept of "elements"
"In the 18th century, Lavoisier proposed the oxidation theory, which overturned the phlogiston theory and revealed the nature of combustion."
"And he also proposed the law of conservation of mass."
"So far, Chemistry has become a real subject.”
Li Qiwei knew the history of chemistry at his fingertips and deeply impressed everyone present.
Professor Bruce is obviously a physicist, but he has such an in-depth understanding of chemistry.
Heisenberg's eyes lit up in the audience.
“Is this Professor Bruce’s speech?”
“Sure enough, just like the rumors, any knowledge and concepts become easy to understand when they come out of his mouth.”
“Besides, he is too knowledgeable and knowledgeable.”
“I am so lucky to hear this speech today.”
Pauli next to him curled his lips and retorted:
“It’s just so-so, nothing useful.”
“It can only be said that Professor Bruce’s speech ability is top-notch.”
"If this is what follows, I will be so disappointed."
Heisenberg stared closely at Li Qiwei on the stage and murmured in a low voice: "It's impossible."
Soon, they will be shocked.
At this time, Li Qiwei suddenly turned around and said:
“From modern times to the present, many achievements have been made in the field of chemistry.”
“Especially in the synthesis of polymers, The results are even more amazing.”
“Rubber, urea, benzene polymers, etc.”
“Chemists can proudly say: Chemistry has changed the world.”
“However, in my opinion, chemistry still has not got rid of the hat of alchemy.”
“Today’s chemists, It’s just that they know better than the alchemists of the Middle Ages. Just to gain more knowledge.”
“In essence, everyone is an alchemist.”
“Alchemists in the past used crude instruments for experiments, but now chemists use more advanced ones. Instrumental experiments.”
"But both can only grasp the laws of matter, but they cannot explain why matter has such laws."
Wow!
Li Qiwei’s conclusion caused an uproar in the venue.
Everyone was shocked by this statement.
Contemporary chemists are still alchemists!
How is this possible?
Originally everyone thought that Professor Bruce was just using the alchemist as a metaphor.
It means that there is still room for breakthroughs in current chemistry.
However, no one expected that he actually thought he was a chemist or an alchemist.
This is a bit strange.
How can the two be compared.
Could the medieval alchemists invent the synthesis of ammonia?
If Haber were sitting here, he would probably be crying.
Professor Bruce, whom he respected most, actually said that he was an alchemist.
Nernst in the front row widened his eyes, and then showed a wry smile.
If anyone else were on the stage today, the director of the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Berlin would be furious on the spot.
However, if it is Professor Bruce, that is a different matter.
"Bruce, I'm still sitting here, give me some face."
But the bosses know that that man has never been a sensationalist.
He will definitely have explanations and explanations next.
Sure enough, Li Qiwei continued:
“I know that many of you here may not agree with my point of view.”
“Well, let me ask a question.”
"If any of you can answer it, I will take back what I just said and apologize."
"Everyone can answer it, whether a student or a teacher."
Wow!
There was another burst of exclamation on the field!
Such a speech is so exciting. Pauli finally cheered up, and he had to admit: it was starting to get a little interesting.
At this time, Li Qiwei asked:
"We know that in the periodic table of elements, metallic sodium is very reactive and will explode when it encounters water."
"Similarly, chlorine is also a very reactive gas that is highly toxic and can easily It reacts strongly with living organisms."
"But, it. When they are combined together, the sodium chloride formed is very stable."
"It has even become an essential salt in human daily life."
"From explosions and dramas. Poison, to human food, this is an earth-shaking change. ”
"Does anyone know the reason?"
"Further, why our world has such rich and colorful elements with different properties."
"What exactly is it? What factors determine the properties of elements? ”
Wow!
As soon as the question came out, the venue was completely silent.
Everyone opened their mouths, as if they had never thought about this problem.
There were also many chemistry majors present.
From the day they started class, they began to learn various chemical reactions.
“Oxygen + hydrogen → water.”
“Carbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide.”
"Sodium + water → sodium hydroxide + hydrogen."
"."
They know more chemical reactions than even Professor Bruce knows.
However, no one has ever explained why sodium reacts explosively when it encounters water, but why does carbon not react when it encounters water?
The students never thought of asking such a question.
Because in everyone’s opinion, isn’t this the natural law that should be taken for granted?
It’s like no one asked why the stone is hard, because it is hard.
However, now, Professor Bruce, the world's leading scientist, has asked a shocking question.
Why are there all kinds of elements with different properties in this world?
Heisenberg was stunned at this moment.
He didn't expect that someone would ask such a question?
Shouldn’t this be common sense?
Just remember it.
At this moment, he felt the rigorous attitude of a great scientist.
Question anything you take for granted!
Discover the essence behind it.
Heisenberg admired Li Qiwei beyond measure.
The other party's speech was different from that of all the other big guys, with a strong sense of personal heroism.
Heisenberg knew that this was because Professor Bruce's strength far surpassed everyone present.
He saw higher, farther and deeper.
It is precisely because of today's speech that it will have a profound impact on Heisenberg's future theory.
Pauli was also a little shocked.
He felt like he couldn't find a point to spray.
That man is so scary.
There is a huge gap between me and him.
Pauli easily criticized others because he had his own opinions and opinions, which were often better than others.
But facing Li Qiwei, he could only be crushed.
You can’t even answer the other person’s question, why do you have the nerve to criticize others?
“Can Professor Bruce explain this problem?”
“If it is true, it can indeed be said to have completely changed the subject of chemistry.”
Somehow, Pauli always felt that this possibility was very high.
The big guys in the front row were also lost in thought at this moment.
Nernst, in particular, felt even more horrified.
He is the proposer of the third law of thermodynamics and is also considered half a chemist.
Even in real history, he will win this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
But he was also at a loss to solve Li Qiwei's problem.
He didn't even think about this aspect.
Although Soddy's theory and Bruce's proton-neutron model brought about radical changes in chemistry.
Chemists have gained insight into the true meaning of the periodic table of elements.
But this only means that people understand why the elements are arranged like this, but they don’t know why they have this property.
This is the most essential and core question of chemistry.
Chemistry also jumped out and became a stumbling block as a logically self-consistent and independent discipline like physics.
If this problem is really solved, chemists will indeed no longer be alchemists.
Nernst said with emotion to Einstein next to him:
“I have a hunch that today’s meeting will definitely shock the scientific community.”
"You accidentally changed the world."
Hearing this, Einstein didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Bruce is still the same blues.
He never skipped any speech or academic lecture.
Always ask thought-provoking questions with a thirst for knowledge and a reverence for science.
Wherever he is, the dawn of science shines.
On the podium, Li Qiwei had a panoramic view of everyone's expressions.
He smiled and said: "It seems that no one can answer this question."
"Chemists can make purer sodium chloride than people in the Middle Ages."< br>
“But there is no essential difference between the two.”
"Chemists are just [using] this level, which is more detailed than their predecessors."
"We know that it is impossible to turn stone into gold, but we still know nothing about why gold is so stable. We know.”
“We have the most advanced glass instruments, which are no longer the simple alchemy furnaces of the past.”
“But what is happening between the substances in the instruments. How they react to such changes is still unclear."
"It's like there is a black box."
"Put A in, and B will come out."
"But no one knows what the process is like."
"Anyone who does this kind of thing actually They are all alchemists.”
“Chemistry today is no exception.”
A pin drop could be heard in the venue, and a pessimistic mood spread.
At this time, Pauli suddenly asked loudly:
"Professor Bruce, can you solve this problem?"
"Otherwise we will not accept you."
The crowd was suddenly in an uproar.
Everyone looked at Pauli and wondered where did this fat boy come from, so brave.
Sommerfeld covered his head in embarrassment, his face full of helplessness.
That guy started being mean-mouthed again.
Li Qiwei also didn’t expect that a young man would dare to talk to him like this.
However, he was very happy.
He saw too many respectful gestures.
"Young man, I remember you."
"You can come to me after the meeting."
Everyone was envious.
Heisenberg was giggling beside him. He thought Brother Pauli was so awesome.
“Of course I can.”
"Otherwise, I wouldn't say that I would help chemists take off their alchemist hat."
"And the solution lies in quantum theory!"
Wow!
The crowd was shocked!
(End of this chapter)