I've read several articles lately claiming trees are being destroyed by forest fires but, if every part of a tree is made from indestructible fundamental particles, is anything 'destroyed' or is everything 'changed'. At a sub-atomic level: if the tree is destroyed, what is 'destroyed' and how. At an sub-atomic level: if the tree is changed, what is 'changed' and how.
I am seeking clarification as to what happens at a sub-atomic level to the fundamental particles making up physical material that is burned.
Once a piece of wood is burned it is not wood anymore. Same for a burned tree. Or a digested apple. Or a melted snowman.
But the atoms remain. It’s basic chemistry. You find your answer in every chemistry textbook.
"the atoms remain. It's basic chemistry". It's far from basic I'm afraid, and I did try to clarify I was asking about what happens at a sub-atomic level rather than at an atomic level. Unfortunately there are very few papers actually about the process of burning at a sub-atomic level, or even about the physical consistency of flames. There are lots of papers about how heat changes water molecules, or melted snowmen as you put it, but few about the chemical process of burning. Thank you, though, for your response
I can see I've probably not expressed this question very well (sorry Dominik) but I'm struggling to find a better way.
Something like, "After a forest fire, all the pre-existing fundamental particles remain the same. There are the same number and same type of particles. Nothing is destroyed in a forest fire and everything remains unchanged at a sub-atomic level. Does the complete devastation of a forest fire at a physical level have any effect at all at the sub-atomic fundamental particle level?"
From Linus Pauling's ( one of the founders of the fields of quantum chemistry and molecular biology. His contributions to the theory of the chemical bond include the concept of orbital hybridization and the first accurate scale of electro-negativities of the elements. ), it's been known that the properties and arrangement of atoms in molecules is dictated by their sub-atomic structure, and thus influences the reactions with other atoms and molecules, ie. such aspects as if they are endothermic or exothermic.
So while, for example, the different isotopes (sub-atomic structure) an atom might have some effect on chemical reactions because of there slightly different masses, and certainly extreme things happen in plasma chemistry ( like the leading edges of a hyper-sonic vehicle ), the ordinary course of events, atoms in chemical reactions remain intact at the sub-atomic level, the basic effect s that gross properties like their kinetic energy ( movement ) or solubility is what changes. So once you get past easily ripping away the electrons and start breaking apart the nucleolus and breaking apart baryons like protons and baryons, it requires stellar energies.
So, 'No' a forest fire at a physical level has no effect at all at the sub-atomic fundamental particle level.
Richard Underwood You can always 'Recommend' my answer, or tag it as 'answered' which helps folks who have a similar question find the discussion : -)
Now I see your point as well. I agree with Michael John Patrick: While it is devastating for organisms, a forest fire is simply an ordinary chemical reaction and does not go beyoend the atomic level, I guess (but I am a biologist, not a physicist).
In my sense, forest fires can destroy:
-the habitats of fauna and flora, which affects their population and their life cycle.
-the biological chain of microorganisms.
-They emit a carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and also nitrogen oxide; greenhouse gases that actively contribute to climate change.
Sorry Menasri, but you have missed the point of the question. Nothing you have described occurs at the sub-atomic level of fundamental particles the question asks about.
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