The Molecule’s Triumph

The Molecule's Triumph By Professor Carl F. Eyring, Physics Department, B. Y. U. Characters in the story: — Water Molecule, the smallest particle of water, is dual in character, being composed of two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen. Old Sol, the sun, the source of earth's energy. Heat Waxes, the fairy-like carriers of Sol's energy. They move from the sun with a speed of 186,000 miles per second. Air, a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon-dioxide molecules. Droplet, an aggregation of billions ol molecules. • Nitrate Family, a family of molecules carrying the much-needed plant food nitrogen in a water-soluble form. Protoplasm, the physical basis of life — the material out of which living cells are made. Mr. Chloroplvyll, always dressed in green and residing in plant leaves and stems. Carbon Dioxide Molecules, dual characters, coming into being with the burning of carbon. Guard Cells, sentinels standing guard at the portals (the stomata) of the leaf. Starch, a useful individual composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen— a friend of man. Setting: Any pond, storm center, wheat field, flour mill, and home. Time: Any summer and winter. At noon one day a billion billion Water Molecules were playing near the surface of a pond. All morning Old Sol had been sending out his genial Heat Waves which caressed the sur- face of the water giving the Molecules warmth, energy of mo- tion. During the night the Molecules had lost so much energy that they were compelled to huddle together; but now with the coming of mid-day they were happy, active, and free. The game they played was simple and interesting. They were trying to see how hard they could strike each other. The Heat Waves were there encouraging them on and contributing energy to the most susceptible. And so they played and so energy was con- tributed till the game became rough and vigorous. Soon hun- dreds, then thousands, then millions of Molecules received such blows and gained such excessive speeds as to enable them to leave the water surface and fly into the new world of Air. In this new world the Water Molecules had many a hard bump with Oxygen and Nitrogen molecules, and occasionally a collision with Water Molecules, but in general they had much more freedom than in their old home. Soon they were far above the pond surface where the molecules of Air were going by the billions on a pilgrimage into a far off country. The

THE MOLECULE'S TRIUMPH 897 Water Molecules were forced by these Travelers to go on the journey to the great Storm Center. As they neared Storm Center, they met other Molecules who had made a pilgrimage from the North, and who were slow of motion, and compar- atively inactive. At once our active Molecules tried to enliven them, but they did so with a loss of energy. In fact, the Water Molecules gave up so much of their activity that they were forced to remain together in tiny Droplets whenever they hap- pened to bump into each other. Throughout the whole region Water Molecules were huddling together in rain drops. It happened that a few of the Molecules that left the pond the day before came together in the same Droplet. This Droplet began to fall. The Air Molecules pounded it on all sides try- ing to buoy it up, but down it went under the steady pull of gravity. The Droplet fell into a wheat field where months before Spring had enticed Water Molecules to leave their ice crystals and go on a trip into the earth, and where now Summer had forced them all to leave the surface soil. The dry earth wel- comed the rain drops. The Droplet noticed that all other drops were going into the soil so it went too. Its Molecules were friendly, not only with the Molecules of other water drops, but with many Molecules of the Soil especially those of the Nitrate family. In fact, they were so congenial that they decided to live together. One day the Droplet and its Nitrate friends found them- selves in the presence of a Root Hair. It was a beautiful archi- tectural structure built of plant cells. Each plant cell l»ad a wall built of molecules between which large openings or gate- ways were in evidence. After a little deliberation the Mole- cules decided to explore the wonders of the Root Hair City. They presented themselves at the city portals and asked the privilege of entering. The Protoplasm answered, "Welcome! We are delighted to have you visit our city. We would like to go out into the world but our city's gates are closed against us. Yes, indeed, come in, and we will show you the wonder of our orderly city, our great manufacturing plant, where Mr. Chloro- phyll is superintendent and where genial Heat Waves, the per- sonal representatives of Old Sol, do the work." After the molecules were induced to enter, they were con- ducted through long tubes, led into crevasses, crowded into small cavities, and finally were brought to a leaf, the manu- facturing plant. Here Mr. Chlorophyll greeted them. He said in part, "In our factory, Water Molecules have the honor of being united with Carbon-dioxide Molecules, provided they agree to give up some Oxygen. With each union they receive

898 IMPROVEMENT ERA a precious gift of energy from Old Sol. Each second a trillion Heat Waves arrive laden with this treasure. The new molecules carry this energy into the world as a gift to man. It is their privilege to supply him with food and fuel. It is even their privilege to supply the energy needed in the thinking of a great thought. It is not their privilege, however, to say when and how the energy is to be expended. The gift is given them freely, and freely they must give it to man. We will be pleased indeed to so honor you!" Some of the Molecules decided to enter the life of service and be carriers of Sol's energy, but others felt that the life of a Water Molecule was superior so, hurrying out of the leaf as rapidly as possible, they passed the Guard Cells and were soon into the world of A,ir. The remaining Water Molecules linked with Carbon-dioxide Molecules, eliminated some of the Oxygen, and received the gift of energy. Deep in their hearts they hoped that they might have the privilege of furnishing the energy needed in some noble emotion or some great thought. These energized Molecules were grouped together, carried to a kernel of wheat, and given the name of Starch. They en- joyed their captivity, for they looked forward to their future life of service. Time came when the field was golden brown, when Mr. Chlorophyll closed his manufacturing plant, and when Life was locked up in the kernels of wheat. The grain was harvested, sold, and milled. Our Molecules were very much scattered in the process. Into a number of different homes these and other molecules went in the form of flour. Day by day the flour was made into bread, day by day the bread was eaten, and day by day Starch Molecules gave up their precious charges of energy. Oxygen returned and Water and Carbon- dioxide became separate individuals. Those were anxious days for the Starch molecules. Would they have the honor of helping to furnish the energy of a beautiful thought, or would the energy they had so cherished be used in crude, fickle, or lewd thinking? Would their treasure of Energy be used in the speaking of a kind word, or in the explosion of an ill temper? Could they have the su- preme joy of helping to furnish the energy needed in a fervent prayer, or would their treasure be defiled by the tongue and mind of the profane? Some of the molecules were disappointed. They had done their part, they had delivered their energy undefiled, they had given it freely, but the recipients had disgraced the givers by a misuse of energy. Others were happy. They had helped to supply the energy of thought as an honest scientist worked through a great problem; they had helped to supply the energy

THE MOLECULE'S TRIUMPH 899 of emotion as a devout Christian worshiped his God — a su- preme triumph in energy transfer! Provo, Utah Commemoration Monument Apia, Samoa The above monument, as it appears from the mission house, was un- veiled and dedicated on May 31, 1922, following a recent conference in Apia, Samoa. It was erected in commemoration of the visit of Elders David O. McKay and Hugh J. Cannon at that place, May 31, 1921, and of the remarkable parting benediction uttered on the spot by Elder McKay. The monument measures six feet square at the base, and is thirteen feet high. On the face of the 4-foot-square section of the shaft is a beautiful bronze plate, 12 by 30 inches in dimension, on which is etched in con- spicuous lettering the legend of the visit. The exercises attended by hundreds of people, dressed in white, and by forty missionaries, consisted of a very impressive and appropriate program of songs, speeches, the dedicatory prayer by President John Q. Adams, and music by a new brass band of thirty pieces, known as "Brother McKay's brass band." A very interesting account of the incidents which led to its erection, and of the dedication, etc. has been furnished by President Adams to the Improvement Era, and will appear with other illustrations in, a future number.