In high school chemistry classes students learn about “closed” and “open” systems. Just in case you were physically or mentally absent the day of the lesson, here are examples.
A sealed and insulated glass of water left in a climate-controlled, school lab for several days is a closed system: No energy goes in or out from the constant room environment, and no molecules of water enter or leave the container. Equilibrium prevails between water vapor (a gas) above the surface of the liquid water and the liquid water. Any molecules that leave the water in the container are balanced by gaseous water molecules entering the liquid state. The process inside the container is unaffected by any process outside the container. The balance in the closed container is the product of the Law of Mass Action.
Now, think of an uncovered container of water. Energy and molecules can enter or leave. If the room temperature drops, the energy from the container will enter the room. And gaseous water molecules hovering over the liquid water have a path alternative to entering the liquid water; they can enter the room. The container’s materials are no longer in equilibrium.
Although we think of those who oppose us with adamant stands on their beliefs as closed systems, we should realize that no mind is truly closed. Even the most “closed minded” people are exposed to subtle influences in their environments and the intellectual environments of their opposition. True, stubbornness is a stubborn mental ailment of a closed mind, but even people who live in a “controlled” environment and practically closed intellectual system have inklings that there’s something else “out there,” some molecule of thought that, though counter to their own thinking, is a potential reactant in the chemistry of the mind. And then there’s the problem of the energy required to maintain a “closed system” in a changing environment. A Second Law of Thermodynamics applies as energy flows from abundance to paucity, from hotter to colder as “container” and “environment” trend toward equilibrium.
The Law of Mass Action in chemistry includes a “common-ion effect.” Stay awake for this one; there’s a big test at the end.
If I have a container of silver chloride both in solution (in a liquid form) and in a solid state at the bottom of the vessel, the Law of Mass Action will apply. Silver chloride molecules will interchange between solid and liquid state in equilibrium. But if I add common salt (sodium chloride), the chloride ions will change the number of silver ions in solution. Chloride ions are “common” to both silver chloride and sodium chloride.
Our best bet at a meeting of minds and an opening of closed systems is to introduce that which opposing minds share. Equilibrium in closed minds is inimical to cooperation and compassion. Disequilibrium is a product of open systems and of open minds. Although emotional equilibrium is more healthful for individuals than disequlibrium, in the long run, intellectual disequilibrium is more beneficial to people with antagonistic opinions. That Second Law also applies: Containers and environment trend toward equilibrium; balanced relationships result.
Now the test. Get out your pencil.
A sealed and insulated glass of water left in a climate-controlled, school lab for several days is a closed system: No energy goes in or out from the constant room environment, and no molecules of water enter or leave the container. Equilibrium prevails between water vapor (a gas) above the surface of the liquid water and the liquid water. Any molecules that leave the water in the container are balanced by gaseous water molecules entering the liquid state. The process inside the container is unaffected by any process outside the container. The balance in the closed container is the product of the Law of Mass Action.
Now, think of an uncovered container of water. Energy and molecules can enter or leave. If the room temperature drops, the energy from the container will enter the room. And gaseous water molecules hovering over the liquid water have a path alternative to entering the liquid water; they can enter the room. The container’s materials are no longer in equilibrium.
Although we think of those who oppose us with adamant stands on their beliefs as closed systems, we should realize that no mind is truly closed. Even the most “closed minded” people are exposed to subtle influences in their environments and the intellectual environments of their opposition. True, stubbornness is a stubborn mental ailment of a closed mind, but even people who live in a “controlled” environment and practically closed intellectual system have inklings that there’s something else “out there,” some molecule of thought that, though counter to their own thinking, is a potential reactant in the chemistry of the mind. And then there’s the problem of the energy required to maintain a “closed system” in a changing environment. A Second Law of Thermodynamics applies as energy flows from abundance to paucity, from hotter to colder as “container” and “environment” trend toward equilibrium.
The Law of Mass Action in chemistry includes a “common-ion effect.” Stay awake for this one; there’s a big test at the end.
If I have a container of silver chloride both in solution (in a liquid form) and in a solid state at the bottom of the vessel, the Law of Mass Action will apply. Silver chloride molecules will interchange between solid and liquid state in equilibrium. But if I add common salt (sodium chloride), the chloride ions will change the number of silver ions in solution. Chloride ions are “common” to both silver chloride and sodium chloride.
Our best bet at a meeting of minds and an opening of closed systems is to introduce that which opposing minds share. Equilibrium in closed minds is inimical to cooperation and compassion. Disequilibrium is a product of open systems and of open minds. Although emotional equilibrium is more healthful for individuals than disequlibrium, in the long run, intellectual disequilibrium is more beneficial to people with antagonistic opinions. That Second Law also applies: Containers and environment trend toward equilibrium; balanced relationships result.
Now the test. Get out your pencil.
- Can you recognize any aspect of your thinking that is in equilibrium because it occurs in a sealed container of thought?
- Do you share any molecule of thought with your opponents?
- How can you apply the Law of Mass Action and the “common-ion effect” to your life and your dealings with others?
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