[Mortalsfool]

What is it about the structure of ash, that while being of such a flimsy structure, allows it to pass through air [when dropped] and hit water, which is eight hundred times more dense then air, without breaking? It seemingly makes the transition almost undamaged.

[Unknown008]

Well, I don't know for sure, but ash is carbon, and you know that carbon compounds are very stable (like graphite and diamond as the best examples, without forgetting all the organic chemistry). Well I think that the carbon atom, being small itself (relative mass 12) and forming strong bonds with other carbon atoms accounts for the behaviour of ash.

[Mortalsfool]

Well, I don't know for sure, but ash is carbon, and you know that carbon compounds are very stable (like graphite and diamond as the best examples, without forgetting all the organic chemistry). Well I think that the carbon atom, being small itself (relative mass 12) and forming strong bonds with other carbon atoms accounts for the behaviour of ash.

It's great that we get a chance to ask all the peculiar questions on our minds. I don't know if it's the right answer, but thanks a lot for your reply. Unless someone gives a better answer, it's the best so far. Now I know!

[Unknown008]

Well, I think a while, and that came up. I decided to post it. The thing is that there were more 'specialists' some time ago, when I could ask for the problem I had in chemistry, but now, I haven't seen them for a while... :(

[Mortalsfool]

Well, I think a while, and that came up. I decided to post it. The thing is that there were more 'specialists' some time ago, when I could ask for the problem I had in chemistry, but now, I haven't seen them for a while... :(

Thanks Unknown008. It's a shame how sites lose people after a while. I guess they could get tired of answering all our inane questions. Thanks anyway. Just another of life's mysteries.
Jack