History of Chemistry in Ancient and Medieval India, Incorporating the History of Hindu Chemistry by Acharya Prafulla Chandra Ray c40.s3.24

c40.s3.24

The most remarkable contribution of the Jainas to the atomic theory relates to their analysis of atomic linking, or the mutual attraction (or repulsion) of atoms, in the formation of molecules The question is raised in Umasvati's *Jaina sutras* (circa A.D 40)—what constitutes atomic linking? Is mere contact (or juxtaposition) of atoms sufficient to cause linking? No distinction is here made between the forces that bind together atoms of the same *bhuta*, and the chemical affinity of one *bhuta* to another. The Jainas hold that the different classes of elementary substances (*bhutas*) are all evolved from the same primordial atoms. The intra-atomic forces, which lead to the formation of chemical compounds, do not, therefore, differ in kind from those that explain the original linking of atoms to form molecules.