Eli5 when temperature is just how much molecules move, why can our skin be permanently damaged if they move to much, aka, you get a burn.

Question

Eli5 when temperature is just how much molecules move, why can our skin be permanently damaged if they move to much, aka, you get a burn.

In: 131

Answer 1

Every cell im your body is made of molecules. For a cell to be “alive” and functional those molecules have to be arranged in a very specific manner and move in specific ways (temperature) or they won’t interact properly. Now increase the movement (temperature) at random and you can cause havock in the cell.
Yes, the cell has mechanisms to make it’s molecules go back to the right arrangements, but this has a limit. The cell dies if the molecules move too much and leave their arrangement.

Think of a loosely mounted Lego set. Now trow it inside a container and shake it vigorously. Open container and you have pieces all around. It’s not the set anymore. It can be similar, but can not make the same things.