An interesting question which I’ve read somewhere on a forum was “What is the formula for the human body?” After a bit of reading, I’ve compiled an answer that might make you wonder, “why would anyone actually want to acquire such information?”. Since I stumbled upon it and read the question somewhere, here is a possible answer.
Chemical Abstracts arranges its formulae according to a system known as the Hill Order, developed by Edwin A. Hill and published in 1900. A compound’s Hill Order formula may be different from its empirical formula. There are some basic rules to follow to put your molecular formula in Hill Order:
- For carbon-containing compounds, carbon (C) appears first.
- Carbon is followed immediately by hydrogen (H), if present.
- Compounds are listed by increasing number of atoms.
- All non-carbon element symbols follow in alphabetical order, and within alphabetical order are listed by increasing atom count.
For example, the empirical formula for Sodium Chloride is NaCl. The Hill Order for Sodium Chloride is ClNa. For Sodium Biocarbonate, the empirical formula in NaHCO3, and the Hill Order is CHNaO3.
C(E28)H(E28)N(E27)O(E27)P(E25)
S(E25)Ca(E25)K(E24)Cl(E24)
Na(E24)Mg(E24)Se(E24)Fe(E23)
Co(E23) Cu(E23)F(E23)I(E23)
Zn(E22)Si(E22)Mn(E20)B(E20)
Cr(E20)V(E20)Sn(E19)Mo(E18)
Ni(E16)
In defining ourselves in this manner, we see that: We are water-based molecules (more so than being carbon-based); by weight we are 65% water in composition.
Using this format, we will smartly subdivide these human molecules into three groups:
Mx = Male Human Molecule
Fy = Female Human Molecule
Bc = Immature Human Molecule [i.e. a Baby/Child aged -9 mo. to 15 yrs]
basic human chemical reaction is (is a ‘couple’ forming reaction):
CE28HE28NE27OE27PE25SE25CaE25KE24ClE24… CuE23FE23IE23ZnE22SiE22MnE20BE20CrE20VE2…
To build on this, we also need to add in the formation of a child (human molecule). In doing this, it would be nice to simply use: [M] for the Male molecule, [F] for the Female molecule, and [B] for the Baby/Child molecule. However, these symbols are already assigned: M=Mega (or 10E6), F=Fluorine, and B=Boron.
Next in line, we might smartly choose the standard procedure for symbolically labeling elements, which is to use the initial letter as a capital, and the second letter as the lower case. This would give us [Ma], [Fe], and [Ba]; but as we know ‘Ma’ is short for Mama, Fe=iron, and Ba=Barium.
At this point, we would be wise to keep the initial letter as: M, F, and B, but to choose new (second) lowercase letters. And since the letters ‘x’ and ‘y’ seem to intuitively feel correct, owing to the fact that the 23rd human chromosome determines the sex of the individual, according to the rules: XY=Male and XX=Female; then we will lean towards the letters ‘x’, ‘y’, and ‘c’ (child) for the choice of our (second) lower case letters. However, for our final decision, we will use the letters in a sort of ‘reverse manner’ so to allow the ‘feel’ of the situation to prevail. Such that, throughout Human Thermodynamics we will adhere to the symbol choices of:
Mx = Male molecule (analogous to Extreme-Sports)
Fy = Female molecule (analogous to Gynecology)
Bc = Baby/child molecule (or a person aged 0-15yrs)
This, in conclusion, is owing to the fact that it seems to ‘feel’ sort of strange, or unnatural, to use the symbol choices of: ‘My’ (for the male molecule), and ‘Fx’ (for female molecule), as would be the case if we let the 23rd chromosome rule dictate [i.e. XY=Male and XX=Female].
Sources:
von Neumann, J. (1935). Source: Avery J. (2003). Information Theory and Evolution. New Jersey: World Scientific
Porteus, E. (1987). My Twentieth Century Philosophy. New York: Carlton Press, Inc.
Prigogine, I. (1977). Self-Organization in Nonequilibrium Systems: From Dissipative Structures to Order Through Fluctuations. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Schrodinger, E. (1944). What is Life. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
