Wood Chemistry

• Wood is derived from plants -- typically trees or large shrubs. Its chemistry is therefore organic, meaning the wood is comprised of various carbon chains with attached functional groups that are bonded to other carbon chains to form biological molecules. Of the many biological molecules in existence, wood is primarily made up of celluloses and lignins that help to maintain its structure and hardened character relative to the outside environment. Internally, wood-bearing plants function much like other plant organisms. They harvest solar energy and carbon dioxide to power photosynthesis, and incorporate elements within the soil into their structure.
  
  

Metal Chemistry

• Unlike wood, metal typically has a simpler molecular structure. Metals of all kinds are composed of repeating molecular units arranged in a relatively fixed structure. These molecules generally have a single metal atom at their core, which is bonded to one or more ligands. This complex is surrounded by counterions that allow net formal charges to exist on the ligands in the metal complex. Vast numbers of these complexes can be part of a fixed structure and many structures can be predetermine and constructed by scientists and engineers.
  
  

Wood Characteristics

• As a biologically derived substance, wood is carbon-based and maintains a structure designed to support the cellular operations within the parent tree or plant the wood is derived from; therefore, wood can absorb water and other liquids, and usually floats on top of water until it is fully saturated by the liquid. Wood is combustible in an oxygenated atmosphere. Its carbon chains can be broken by adding heat; they then react with the surrounding oxygen to form carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and trace elements while giving off heat. Wood can be used as a fuel and as a building material due to its relative strength compared to other biological matter, and its relative flexibility compared to metals.
  
  

Metal Characteristics

• Metals in complex can take on an incredible variety of characteristics that are dependent on both the metal atom at the core of a complex, as well as the surrounding atoms that make up the ligands and counterions. Metal complexes of different types can be chemically arranged by alloying to create hybrid materials with even more different properties. Metals typically are used to transmit heat and electricity, but can also be used as insulating materials. Metals tend to be highly ductile and are used in wiring. They generally melt when heated rather than burn, and can be shaped without their constitution being radically altered.