Page 82 - The Miracle in the Atom

THE MIRACLE IN THE ATOM
uld sink directly to the bottom. In wa-
ter, however, things are different. Ice-
bergs weighing ten thousands of tons
float on water like corks. So, what be-
nefit can this property of water provi-
de us?
Let us answer this question with
the example of a river: When the weat-
her is very cold, it is not the whole ri-
ver, but only the surface of it that fre-
ezes. Water reaches its heaviest state at
+ 4 C, and as soon as it reaches this
0
temperature, it immediately sinks to
the bottom. Ice is formed on top of wa-
Because the density of frozen water ter as a layer. Under this layer, water
is less than water in liquid form, ice continues to flow, and since + 4 C is a
0
floats on water.
temperature at which living orga-
nisms can survive, life in water continues.
These unique properties which Allah has given water make life possib-
le on the earth. In the Qur'an, Allah states the importance of this great bles-
sing He offers man:
It is He Who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink and
from it come the shrubs among which you graze your herds. And by
it He makes crops grow for you and olives and dates and grapes and
fruit of every kind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who
reflect. (Surat an-Nahl: 10-11)

An Interesting Property of Water
We all know that water boils at 100 C and freezes at 0 C. In fact, under
0
0
normal circumstances, water should be boiling not at 100 C but at + 180 C.
0
0
Why?
In the periodic table, the properties of elements in the same group vary
in a progressive form from light elements towards heavy elements. This or-
der is most evident in hydrogen compounds. The compounds of the ele-
ments sharing the same group with oxygen in the periodic table are called

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