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vitally3643yesterday at 7:45 PM2 repliesview on HN

Yes, except parent is correct. Physcial and chemical mean very different and specific things in this context.

Calling photosynthesis a physical reaction is flatly incorrect no matter how you want to look at it. It is a physics reaction, sure, but "physical reaction" specifically means a Newtonian mechanical, reversible process at the macro scale.

A "chemical reaction" specifically means a (trivially) irreversible quantum/atomic reaction involving chemical bonds at the atomic/molecular scale.


Replies

roughlyyesterday at 11:41 PM

Ok yeah, that’s fair. I missed the distinction.

wizzwizz4yesterday at 10:26 PM

> but "physical reaction" specifically means a Newtonian mechanical, reversible process at the macro scale.

Or friction.