History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c39.s5.6

c39.s5.6

It is only in the mediaeval Samkhya-Patanjala that under the influence of the Nyaya-Vaiseshka a radical difference was conceived to exist between the structure (constitution) of a molecule composed of 'isomeric' atoms, and that of one composed of heterogeneous atoms In the former case, an intimate union was believed to take place, in the latter only a grouping of comparatively free or loosely attached atoms round a radicle atom, with liberation of Energy and the setting up of unequal stress and strain. At the same time, it was, of course, admitted that this distinction does not apply to the forms of subtile matter (*tanmatra*) which could unite in intimate fusion, whether homogeneous or heterogeneous.