As it is shown on the upper figure, the interaction energy for the formation of
atoms from elemental particles is nearly one million-fold larger than the energy of
chemical bond. On the other hand, the energy of aggregation of molecules by
hydrogen bond is only five-fold lower than the bond energy, and the energy of
arrangement of molecules in liquid or in molecular crystal is still much lower and it
could be almost negligible. If the relationship between energies of interactions and
corresponding complexity levels is represented on such a quasi-quantitative way,
then one of possible conclusions could be: complexity is asymptotically
approaching to some limit. Does it mean that complexity cannot grow ad infinitum?
But now, on the left side of the diagram where the “simplicity” dominates, the
interaction energy grows asymptotically to the infinity. Does it mean that the
absolute simplicity is also impossible because it would require the infinite amount
of energy? Accordingly, absolute simplicity and absolute complexity are not possible. The level of complexity covered by chemistry is just in the middle of this
diagram—chemistry is the central science!
The concept of the complexity levels that I have represented based on the energy
of interaction between units is not the only possible. This energy criterion deals
only with the stable particles vibrating around the potential energy minimum, i.e.
atomic nuclei, atoms, molecules, etc. However, in chemistry, the most important are
not so much the structures but rather changes of these structures. But the changes of
structures, the chemical transformations, depend not on the stable structures but
rather on the structures of the transition states that appear not in the potential energy
minimum. Transition states are characterized with the structures appearing in the
high-energy saddle-points where their vibrations are not explained with the rational
numbers but with the imaginary frequencies. Since the direct classification of the
transition states is almost impossible, as the criterion for systematization we can use
the experimental observable that depends on the free energy of these transition
states, i.e. the rate of chemical reaction.
Good models for studying the “shift” from chemical to biological systems are
chemical reaction called hydrolyses. In contrast to the reactions in non-living
nature, the reactions in living beings are catalysed by enzymes. Now, let us compare the rates of hydrolyses occurring without catalysts with those catalysed by
enzymes. As it is shown in the following figure [13]. while the noncatalyzed
reaction rates (rate constants) are spanned within the wide range from 10
−1
–10
−15
s
−1 , the catalysed reactions appear within the narrow range of rates between 10
5
–
10
8 s
−1 . The reaction rates of nuclear processes, studied by quantum mechanics in
the physical standard model, belong to much higher range of values than in the case
of uncalalyzed chemical reactions. In this way, we have three levels of complexity.
However, there is another more interesting point. The emergence of life is characterized by narrowing the range of the rates of chemical reactions!
1 Chemistry and Philosophy of Science
7
atoms from elemental particles is nearly one million-fold larger than the energy of
chemical bond. On the other hand, the energy of aggregation of molecules by
hydrogen bond is only five-fold lower than the bond energy, and the energy of
arrangement of molecules in liquid or in molecular crystal is still much lower and it
could be almost negligible. If the relationship between energies of interactions and
corresponding complexity levels is represented on such a quasi-quantitative way,
then one of possible conclusions could be: complexity is asymptotically
approaching to some limit. Does it mean that complexity cannot grow ad infinitum?
But now, on the left side of the diagram where the “simplicity” dominates, the
interaction energy grows asymptotically to the infinity. Does it mean that the
absolute simplicity is also impossible because it would require the infinite amount
of energy? Accordingly, absolute simplicity and absolute complexity are not possible. The level of complexity covered by chemistry is just in the middle of this
diagram—chemistry is the central science!
The concept of the complexity levels that I have represented based on the energy
of interaction between units is not the only possible. This energy criterion deals
only with the stable particles vibrating around the potential energy minimum, i.e.
atomic nuclei, atoms, molecules, etc. However, in chemistry, the most important are
not so much the structures but rather changes of these structures. But the changes of
structures, the chemical transformations, depend not on the stable structures but
rather on the structures of the transition states that appear not in the potential energy
minimum. Transition states are characterized with the structures appearing in the
high-energy saddle-points where their vibrations are not explained with the rational
numbers but with the imaginary frequencies. Since the direct classification of the
transition states is almost impossible, as the criterion for systematization we can use
the experimental observable that depends on the free energy of these transition
states, i.e. the rate of chemical reaction.
Good models for studying the “shift” from chemical to biological systems are
chemical reaction called hydrolyses. In contrast to the reactions in non-living
nature, the reactions in living beings are catalysed by enzymes. Now, let us compare the rates of hydrolyses occurring without catalysts with those catalysed by
enzymes. As it is shown in the following figure [13]. while the noncatalyzed
reaction rates (rate constants) are spanned within the wide range from 10
−1
–10
−15
s
−1 , the catalysed reactions appear within the narrow range of rates between 10
5
–
10
8 s
−1 . The reaction rates of nuclear processes, studied by quantum mechanics in
the physical standard model, belong to much higher range of values than in the case
of uncalalyzed chemical reactions. In this way, we have three levels of complexity.
However, there is another more interesting point. The emergence of life is characterized by narrowing the range of the rates of chemical reactions!
1 Chemistry and Philosophy of Science
7