Talk:Bending arts/@comment-168.223.221.97-20120416011220/@comment-4888161-20120416033918

The short answer is yes. The long answer is much more complicated. There are many theories, but the loose stuff is based from logic and cannon evidence we saw in the show. Let's just start by saying that molecules are the smallest whole particles of compounds like water, earth and air. So a waterbender for example, manipulates the movement of molecules by default because a larger mass of water is simply a combination of many water molecules. Since waterbenders can control the size of the mass of water the are manipulating, it is likely they can control it small scale enough to manipulate the movement (just the movement but that allows a lot) of water molecules. If that is true for water, the same can likely be said of earth and air as well since the smallest units of those elements are also molecules. Therefore, it is extremely likely that all three of those elements have benders that can bend on a molecular level.

Fire is different because it is not mass so much as it is a chemical reaction that needs a few things to happen. One of those things is heat. We've seen firebenders bend heat without fire, so that's a hint. As I said before in another post:

"Heat is basically the motion of atoms and molecules creates a form of energy called heat or thermal energy which is present in all matter."

But if benders of the other elements can bend molecules of those elements, firebenders can't control all molecules or they would also be able to bend the other elements as well. So how do they firebend? Firebenders can also bend lightning, and that's another clue. As I also said in a prior post:

''"Lightning is only a bolt electricity, or a current of moving electrons." ''

So firebenders have to be able to control those moving electrons or else controlling lightning would be impossible as lightning basically is moving electrons. And if they can control electrons, it would also explain the heat. Technically, this would mean that firebenders must be able bend on a sub-atomic level. But since firebenders can't control other elements, their sub atomic control must be limited only to electrons.

There is likely more to all of this bending science, and there are many different theories regarding this. This is just the basis concluded from what we know. There is also the spiritual side of this, where there is much debate as to how much of a role that plays over science and vice versa. But if science plays any role at all, it is highly likely that benders can bend on the molecular level, except firebenders which likely can (but only with electrons) bend on a sub atomic level.