The chemistry of 大吉大利, 财源广进, 年年有余

Happy Chinese New Year!

As we were having lunch earlier, my daughter was asking me whether I knew anything about covalent bonding.  The words struck a deep, long-forgotten  memory somewhere in the cerebellum, and I asked if what she meant was the situation where one atom has "extra" electrons and binds with another atom that is "short" of an electron (my old Chemistry teacher is probably foaming at the mouth about now).

So my daughter said, no, I think what you're referring to is ionic bonding, like when two copper atoms ("short" of 4 electrons) bind with the "sulphate" polyatom ("extra" 4 electrons).

Covalent bonding is like, when, a hydrogen atom, which has one electron, but remains "short" of one electron, binds with another hydrogen atom, and the two hydrogen atoms sort of "share" each of their lone electrons with each other, such that both atoms now have the full complement of 2 electrons (Chemistry teacher's symptoms escalate to worryingly full-on convulsions).

It struck me then, that science is mad.  I can understand ionic bonding.  I have $1.50.  You have $50 cents.  A bag of Kaka costs $1.  I give you 50 cents.  Now we both have $1.  So we both can buy a bag of Kaka.  $1.50 + $0.50 = $2.00.  Everybody is happy (although at this point, Chemistry teacher undergoes spontaneous combustion).

But covalent bonding?  Think about it this way.  I have 50 cents.  You have 50 cents.  We are both short, and don't have enough to buy our own packet of $1 Kaka.  But I give you my $0.50, and you give me your $0,50, and mysteriously, we both end up with enough to buy our own bag of $1 Kaka.  $0.50 + $0.50 = $2.  WHAAAAAAT????  (Chemistry teacher's cells undergo nuclear fission and radioactive fallout mushrooms to envelop the world).

Isn't it incredible that atoms can choose how to behave in different circumstances?  When there is enough to go around, then one atom can give to the other, so that both have enough.  But when there isn't enough to go round... the atoms still find a way to give to each other, and then somehow, there's enough to go around.

John 6:1-14 describes how Jesus needed to feed a crowd of five thousand, but the disciples only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes, which a small boy had brought to them.  Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the bread and fish into pieces and got the disciples to distribute the food to the crowd.  When everyone had enough to eat, there were twelve basketfuls of food leftover!

And if you believe that two hydrogen atoms, each short of an electron can come together and somehow end up with both atoms having enough, then... well, John 6:1-14 is entirely in sync with the laws of the Universe.  You say being a Christian requires faith to believe in miracles?  You're right.  The whole Universe is an exercise in the miraculous.

This Chinese New Year, may we be blessed with this sort of sharing and multiplication.  In the year ahead, may we see with our very own eyes, that as we share our time, resources, money and energy with friends, family, and those in need, we will find that we are able to meet their needs completely.  And even when we are short - when we feel we are tired and don't have enough for ourselves, we continue to give, and find to our surprise, that we still have enough, and more than enough left over to go around!

Now that, is plentifulness.  That, is truly 大吉大利, 财源广进, 年年有余!

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