Decomposition

[Roman]

Give an example of inorganic materials rotting.

Iron rusts. Snow melts. Salt dissolves.
I guess it depends on how you define "rot".

 

[Roman]

Draqon, decomposition implies loss of structure.
In biology this means loss of organic structure.
In chemistry this means separation into constituents by chemical reaction.
Mostly though, when using the word "decomposition", organic decomposition is meant.
Rotting is the process of organic decomposition by means of micro-organism and the organic objects own chemical processes and enzymes.

Edit:
Draqon, you are confusion mere chemical reactions with organic decomposition.

Oh for fucks sake, get a clue.

 

[S.A.M.]

Why does decomposition occur?

For cycling. Everything is made up of elements, but the compounds which define structure and hence functionality are not the same, hence the elements (which are finite) must cycle and require decomposition to be available.

 

[pluto2]

Draqon, decomposition implies loss of structure.
In biology this means loss of organic structure.
In chemistry this means separation into constituents by chemical reaction.
Mostly though, when using the word "decomposition", organic decomposition is meant.
Rotting is the process of organic decomposition by means of micro-organism and the organic objects own chemical processes and enzymes.

So why does decomposition by means of micro-organisms occur only after death?

 

[draqon]

So why does decomposition by means of micro-organisms occur only after death?

decomposition occurs during life as well...its just that the rate of new cell formation is higher than the rate of cells decomposing.

 

[pluto2]

For cycling. Everything is made up of elements, but the compounds which define structure and hence functionality are not the same, hence the elements (which are finite) must cycle and require decomposition to be available.

So does decomposition mean that nature and the universe are finite, like in cyclic universe theory?

 

[Chatha]

decomposition is a natural state reaction, one of the two main reactions- composition and decomposition. Usually you can't have one without the other, just like you can't go to a good school and still keep your wallet.

 

[pluto2]

decomposition occurs during life as well...its just that the rate of new cell formation is higher than the rate of cells decomposing.

But why does bacterial decomposition only occur after death and not during life?

 

[draqon]

But why does bacterial decomposition only occur after death and not during life?

bacterial decomposition occurs during life as well...but at extremely small rate...since bacteria are faced with lysing cells of the body. bacteria decomposition increases logarithmically as soon as the body no longer is able to supply such lysing cells to kill the bacteria.

 

[S.A.M.]

So does decomposition mean that nature and the universe are finite, like in cyclic universe theory?

In my opinion, its a closed system. Just a very large one.

 

[draqon]

In my opinion, its a closed system. Just a very large one.

so large that concept of it being closed is irrelevant.

 

[S.A.M.]

Not according to market forces.

 

[draqon]

Not according to market forces.

what do you mean?

 

[Enmos]

Oh for fucks sake, get a clue.

Look at the page header !

 

[Enmos]

So why does decomposition by means of micro-organisms occur only after death?

Because the body starts breaking down after death because of it's own chemical processes.. plus there is no defense against these micro-organisms anymore.

 

[Enmos]

So does decomposition mean that nature and the universe are finite, like in cyclic universe theory?

No, it just means that ecosystems or more or less closed systems.
I don't know whether or not SAM worded it like that on purpose, but there is a false sense of purpose implied by her post.

 

[pluto2]

Because the body starts breaking down after death because of it's own chemical processes.. plus there is no defense against these micro-organisms anymore.

But what are the processes beside autolysis and micro-organisms?

 

[Enmos]

But what are the processes beside autolysis and micro-organisms?

Those are the primary processes.

 

[pluto2]

Those are the primary processes.

And what are the other processes?

 

[Enmos]

And what are the other processes?

Other chemical processes that aren't autolysis I guess.