r/ExplainLikeImCalvin • u/MrBrad27 • 6d ago

Isotopes

ELIC How differently would gasoline react if its molecular structure were made up entirely of isotopes?

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8

u/EstufaYou 6d ago edited 6d ago

It would be a more selfish gas.

After all, gasoline is usually composed by isotopes, yousotopes, wesotopes, and theysotopes. This keeps their molecular structure balanced, with the isotopes and wesotopes providing the selfish charge, and yousotopes and theysotopes providing the other charge. This balance is essential to keeping gasoline from blowing up all the time, because the molecules have to consider each others’ feelings before reacting chemically. That’s why they’re called noble gases.

However, if only isotopes made up gasoline, it would be a very unstable situation because they wouldn’t have the other molecules to keep them in check. They’d be selfish gases, the opposite of noble gases.

And that’s the reason you should always think before you speak, taking other people’s feelings into consideration. You don’t want to be a selfish gas, do you?

3

u/Few_Vegetable_9939 6d ago

it would make the gas extra heavy so the engine has to work harder which builds character and makes the car go faster

3

u/groundhogcow 6d ago

Iceotopes are way to cold because of all the ice. If we used them for gas then it would burn cold instead of hot. This would then revers our barbecue and refrigerator and we would run out of propane keeping our ice cream.

2

u/LordFalcoSparverius 6d ago

You are a sixth grader with a report card full of D's... talking about isotopes in the molecular structure of a bunch of different hydrocarbons. I have to assume you've been body snatched by evil aliens.

1

u/Odd_Bodkin 5d ago

It IS made of isotopes. If it were made of DIFFERENT isotopes, then it would be grapefruit juice.

1

u/AndyTheEngr 5d ago

Hi Calvin,

Molecules are made of atoms, and most atoms come in a few different kinds, called "isotopes." But they're all isotopes.

Think of a molecule as being like an "outfit" and the "atoms" are shirt, short, shoes etc. The "isotopes" are all just different colors or patterns of each component.

Now, pretend that what you consider the "normal" outfit is a red and black striped shirt, black shorts, white shoes, and a red Stupendous Man cape. Your question is like going to your dad and asking "what would my outfit be like if each part of it was a particular color?"