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The Jaina world of Non-living
3. The three methods of formation of aggregates are just akin to the three methods of combination taught in general science today. (i) Direct combination (Sanghāta), (ii) Direct dissociation (Bheda) and (iii) single and double displacement (mixed process). The commentary does not illustrate these methods with concrete examples, but the following cases represent them :
(i) Iron + Sulphur-...--> Iron Sulphide.
(ii) Water .....->2 hydrogen + Oxygen (iii) Iron + copper sulphate--...-> Copper + iron sulphate. (iv) Barium chloride + Copper Sulphate .....-> Barium Sulphate +
Copper chloride. It is clear that the third mixed method has now two varieties involving displacement of either or both the radicals to form new molecular aggregates. It is also evident here that these methods represent chemical compound formation. 4. However, there are certain conditions besides the atoms or aggregates to form newer chemical aggregates. This commentary does not deal with them. These conditions have been pointed out in other texts like Bhagavati. They are - (i) intimate contact (ii) non-elastic collisions (iii) bonding capacity due to specific electrical charges (iv) catalysts in the form of containers (metals) and (v) transformational orientation. Until these conditions are fulfilled, the aggregation will be physical rather than chemical.
Secondly, the partial union leads to physical aggregation while total union will lead to the chemical combination. 5. The conditional character has been mentioned in this commentary in terms of internal and external causes representing the inner structure and the above conditions for combination and decombination. 6. The three methods of this aphorism 5.26 could further be taken as indication of three forms of valency-electrovalency, co-valency and coordinate valency involving dissociative ionisation, sharing and transference and sharing of atomic outer electrons during chemical
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