Radicals.

-

 (Not the one in our history textbook but in chemistry!)

Hey everyone and welcome back!

I've been studying Chemistry since 7th grade and every year, we have mostly the same chapters but just a more complex version of it. 

This blog post idea clicked me in the middle of my chemistry class in 11th grade and I thought it would be the perfect analogy to explain a concept relating to our Mental Health - Opinions.

Without further ado,
Let's get to it!

So, right now you might be wondering,

What is a Radical?

In terms of my chemistry textbook in 7th grade,

 A radical is an atom of an element or a group of atoms of different elements that behaves as a single unit with a positive or negative charge on it.

The positive charge arises on it when it gives away electrons to attain stability (they're called cations) and the negative charge arises when it accepts electrons (anions).

So what's the analogy bro?

It's pretty simple.
Let electrons be opinions.

Take a negatively charged particle for instance.

Why is it negatively charged?
Because it's accepting electrons.

In human terms, when a person looks for validation, it takes in other people's opinions and let's it affect them. A lot of times, these opinions can hurt and forces the person to become someone they aren't. They cloud themselves with negative judgement, much like the tiny minus sign you see on top of anions.

And while it's true that accepting electrons makes them stable, when these radicals combine to form proper compounds, they may end up creating a highly reactive or explosive compound.

On the other hand, cations give away electrons to gain stability and get a plus sign on top.
This statement can be seen from 2 sides in a human's pov:

  1. You're giving your opinions to feel satisfied with yourself that you 'one upped' a person and attain that sense of (mental) 'stability'.
  2. You're providing valuable advice and constructive criticism which is genuinely useful in real life, so everyone loves you :)
It's your choice on which side you wish to see this metaphor. 

My only advice, don't let people's unnecessary opinions affect you.
Take inputs from who YOU wish can help you get better (and form a stable compound).

Hope this analogy was helpful in understanding a concept of both, Mental Health and Chemistry!
Don't forget to share and follow for more content, every Friday!

Signing off,
Kuhu :)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Broken Hot Chocolate Machine

-
Image
 I've been in college for about over a month now. In the 40 days I've spent here, I've visited the food hall over 100 times - of which the Hot chocolate machine has been broken for over 90. Bombay's humidity was quickly replaced by Boston's "Fall" (it's winter guys) and the only thing helping me through the transition was a cup of hot chocolate every morning. But about 2 weeks in, the hot chocolate machine broke.       Initially, a piece of paper, closely stuck by tape, lay pressed against the machine: " Hot Chocolate Machine is Broken! "  4 weeks in, it's now a laminated sheet of paper, carefully stuck to the machine. Someone took the time to type it out onto a computer, print it, cut it, have it laminated, and stick it up to the machine. Do you know what they could be doing in that time? (Hint: getting the machine fixed!) This post is not about the machine. (Obviously Kuhu, it's a Mental Health blog - get to the point!) We often pro
Read more

The Constant Comparison Circle

-
Image
"Wish I had hair like them." "How do they manage being the best at EVERYTHING?" "They're so fit  - look at me: a couch potato" We've all compared ourselves with the people around us. We all compare ourselves with the people around us. We get jealous, begrudged and green with envy. And sometimes we just smile to not let the world know. We get insecure. We feel bad. But what we always forget to accept is the state of the situation. Our situation - their situation. Literally no one out there is a 100% happy with their lives. And, unlike the cliches, maybe we shouldn't be.  Who said that you have to be happy all the time? If you're happy all the time then how do you become a better version of yourself? There will always be someone smarter, richer, more popular, and better-looking than you. Healthy competition is good. It's not a bad thing to have people be better than you. It's a bad thing if you accept that you can never work hard and
Read more

Consistency and the 4 Year Special

-
Image
“Isn’t it funny how, day by day, nothing changes, but when we look back, everything is different.” -C.S. Lewis If you go to the gym for the first time, and you work out, and you come back, you look in the mirror, you will see... Nothing. If you go to the gym the next day, and you come back, and you look in the mirror, you will see... Nothing. Clearly, there are no results, can't be measured, it must not be effective, right? This is the thought that often leads to us quitting. The problem doesn't solely lie in the lack of patience, but rather, in the lack of material. If we don't see it, we tend to believe it doesn't exist. That's where we get it wrong. "Good things take time. Getting better takes time. Building a habit takes time." But they also take consistency.  Going to the gym for nine hours does for a day not get you into shape. Working out every day for 30 minutes gets you into shape. Studying a chapter one night before may work (sometimes); but in t
Read more

Is a Fresh Start Always the Best Thing?

-
Image
 Before starting Junior year, I pledged to myself that I would make it "my year." I would study super hard, I'd make a million friends, and I'd come under the teacher's radar. Jump to September 2022,  I was burnt out. Walking back home with earphones plugged in, I remembered the first line of this post. And then I also realised how incredibly stupid it was of me to think I could ever accomplish it. Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't stupid because it was unattainable; it was stupid because it was unsustainable. Many a time, when we wish to just give up everything and "move on" ( start completely fresh), we tend to forget our past and our learnings from it. That is (one of) the biggest mistake we as humans make. Rather than acknowledging a fact, we tend to ignore it and act like nothing happened because after all, Ignorance is Bliss, na? A fresh start shouldn't mean giving up your whole life in pursuit of something new. A fresh start is when yo
Read more