I don't know which is more extraordinary - the news or the way that it has been presented. Maybe I am just becoming an old git faster than I expected..
This is a remarkable story, but one that could be expected from a chemical point-of-view. Scientists have always theorized life based on silicone rather than carbon. Why? It is because silicone and carbon are of the same family in the periodic table – group IV (old IUPAC) or the carbon group. Silicone is heavier than carbon by 8 protons and usually 6 neutrons. Due to the nature of their electron shells, they behave chemically similarly.
Likewise, phosphorus and arsenic are also in the same family in the periodic table – group V (old IUPAC) or the nitrogen group. Again, arsenic is heavier than phosphorus (by 8 protons and 26 neutrons) or approximately twice as heavy. Arsenic is also called a semi-metal in that it can behave as a metal (creates ionic bonds) or as a non-metal (creates covalent bonds with other elements) .
Life that uses arsenic rather than phosphorus in its life cycle, although remarkable, has been theorized based on the nature of chemical theory.
This is a remarkable story, but one that could be expected from a chemical point-of-view. Scientists have always theorized life based on silicone rather than carbon. Why? It is because silicone and carbon are of the same family in the periodic table – group IV (old IUPAC) or the carbon group. Silicone is heavier than carbon by 8 protons and usually 6 neutrons. Due to the nature of their electron shells, they behave chemically similarly.
ReplyDeleteLikewise, phosphorus and arsenic are also in the same family in the periodic table – group V (old IUPAC) or the nitrogen group. Again, arsenic is heavier than phosphorus (by 8 protons and 26 neutrons) or approximately twice as heavy. Arsenic is also called a semi-metal in that it can behave as a metal (creates ionic bonds) or as a non-metal (creates covalent bonds with other elements) .
Life that uses arsenic rather than phosphorus in its life cycle, although remarkable, has been theorized based on the nature of chemical theory.