History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c39.s6.26

c39.s6.26

The qualities of the atom tend to produce similar qualities in the molecule. A molecular quality is, therefore, the result of the conjunction or opposition, as the case may be, of the atomic tendencies. When, for example, the five *bhutas* combine to produce an organic compound (the human body), *tejas*, *ap* and *kshitı* (earth) tend to produce red, white and black respectively; but in the body (a compound substance) the yellow colour may happen to be produced as the result of these tendencies in that particular proportion and collocation But the molecule forms a fresh collocation, redistributes the Mass and Energy, and sets up new forces in the system, which, coming into play, modify the potencies (or tendencies) in the component atoms and thus determine the resultant This is elaborated into a curious but complete theory of the colours of chemical compounds.