DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/FB7R6 Investigation of Metalbending in the Avatar Universe and Proposals for Its Geological, Chemical, and Material Based Mechanisms of Action Cameron Kaminsky, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Abstract may be directly correlated to an ion’s hydrated radius in aqueous solution. The In the universe of Avatar: The Last possibility for controlled manipulation of Airbender, the established explanation for metal oxidation state in this case is also earthbending of processed metals (so-called explored and is theorized to be possible for “metalbending”) is inconsistent with the Avatar. depictions in canon sources and does not provide a rationale that adequately describes Introduction many of the discipline’s abilities and limitations. This work endeavors to uncover In the canon of Avatar: The Last mechanisms which are consistent with Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra, canon depictions and lore as well as metalbending is a sub-discipline of established scientific fact. Metalbending is earthbending developed by Toph Beifong in most likely enabled by the presence of metal 100 AG.1 For the following seventy years, oxides or other ceramic impurities either this skill, long thought to be impossible, was within a processed metal or on the surface. refined and eventually passed along by the This reasonably explains the inability for Beifong matriarch to countless students, sufficiently pure samples of precious metals where it became a—still rare—but well- to be bent, while simultaneously explaining known feat of earthbending.2 It is popularly the bendability of other metals regardless of estimated that one in 100 earthbenders are sample purity. It is also likely that sample naturally predisposed with the ability to homogeneity plays a role in the ease of metalbend.3 The canon explanation for the manipulation. As samples become more phenomenon of metalbending states that heterogenous on the macroscopic and earthbenders cannot bend pure metal and structural level they become easier for that the act of metalbending requires the earthbenders to manipulate. This assertion is sensing of impurities within the metal, consistent with observed material behaviors such as those involving metal meteorites and coal. Finally, the manipulation of chelated or 1 Spaulding and O’Bryan, “The Earth King.” aqueous metal ions is established to be 2 Di Martino, Konietzko, and Yang, The Promise, possible. The difficulty of this manipulation Part One. 3 Graham and Mattila, “Old Wounds.” The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 2, August 2020 1 which can themselves be bent.4 This materials. As stated above, the ability to explanation raises many questions that focus manipulate metal is possible courtesy of on the very essence and definition of impurities in solid metal, and platinum is the earthbending and, by extension, one metal continuously singled out as being metalbending. At its heart, it creates the unbendable. It is not known for certain if necessity for a geological, physical, or other precious metals like gold or silver can chemical rationale for what can and cannot be bent. There is some circumstantial be bent. evidence that bending gold may be possible; Another huge complication in the canon Kuvira is seen to crumple the Kyoshi Medal explanation arises from the fact that even the of Freedom, which appears to be made of most capable metalbenders are unable to gold.6 However, the medal may have simply bend platinum.5 Again, the canonical been a less precious core plated with gold explanation is reliant on impurities within and, as a result, this is not reliable evidence the metal being the target and active that gold can be bent. Another mention of component in the act of bending. It states possible gold bending originates in the that, in the case of platinum, these impurities teachings of Toph Beifong. During her years are not present because the metal is too pure teaching metalbending at her academy, Toph and, as a result, it cannot be bent. This on at least one occasion required students to explanation lacks supporting evidence and is practice metalbending on coins.7 Earth inconsistent with facts that can be deduced Kingdom currency is composed of copper, from canon sources. The remainder of this silver, and gold pieces, but it again seems work will endeavor to provide a series of unlikely that these coins would be pure explanations for the observations and metal. Perhaps the most significant piece of behavior of metalbending in canon sources evidence regarding gold’s bendability is not and attempt to coalesce a coherent and explicitly stated and may instead be inferred consistent mechanism for the action of from the metal’s absence. If gold were metalbending. It will present these theories unbendable—and is assumed to be more in context, establish the predictions made by abundant than platinum—surely it would be them, and discuss any limitations that the metal of choice to protect from bending currently exist in the models. for purely economical and logistical reasons. Instead, platinum is used widely for this Discussion purpose, implying that gold alone would not be sufficient to prevent bending. Again, this Assessing the Facts analysis requires many assumptions that complicate the theory. In reality, the To begin the discussion of earthbending, abundance of gold and platinum in the it is first important to assess all of the facts earth’s crust is almost identical, but gold which are presented by the canon source 6 Zwyer and Hendrick, “The Coronation.” 4 Volpe, Di Martino, and Konietzko, “The Guru.” 7 Di Martino, Konietzko, and Yang, The Promise, 5 Dos Santos and Ryu, Ki Hyun, “The Aftermath.” Part Two. The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 2, October 2020 2 production has historically been much The carbon found in coal is technically higher.8 Gold is also an extremely soft metal organic, and regularly takes the form of when pure, which could explain why it is large nonregular aromatic networks.13 Even not used for these purposes.9 At this point, if anthracite, the most heavily coalified form, evidence directly from the canon is the only is still considered organic. It does have a consideration, it remains unclear whether considerably reduced nitrogen, oxygen, and gold can be bent by even the most powerful hydrogen content compared to early-stage metalbenders. coalification products, and is defined by a It is widely stated that metal obtained more aromatized structure, but remains a from meteorites is much easier to bend than nonregular polymer distinct from inorganic refined metals. Suyin Beifong successfully carbon ceramics like graphite.14 Curiously, taught many students including Avatar coal bending is the only confirmed occasion Korra to metalbend by beginning with metal on which manipulation of organic carbon is meteorites.10 This is a valuable piece of observed. It is believed that in general only information due to the extensively inorganic carbon is bendable, yet for some documented composition and structure of reason, coal is an exception to this rule. metal meteorites.11 As with coal bending, crystal bending Other materials that are known to be will be pertinent to later discussion. The bendable include metallic mercury, coal, and practice of crystalbending is considerably mineral crystals.12 These all have important rarer than garden variety earthbending but is roles in defining the abilities and limitations still assumed to be significantly easier than of metalbending. As a liquid metal at room metalbending. Little is known about the temperature, mercury is unique, and crystals seen being bent, and although there knowing that it is bendable may provide appear to be at least two distinct varieties, useful insight into the mechanisms at play. It even this is unclear. The first is seen in the is unclear whether mercury is relatively Crystal Catacombs of Ba Sing Se, and there harder or easier to bend than more mundane is little information regarding its processed metals. Coal bending is composition besides apparent apparently a beginner or intermediate level phosphorescence (or luminescence) and its earthbending form that has important pale green color.15 Due to the similarity in implications considering coal’s ancient appearance (Figure 1), there is a possibility biological origin and high carbon content. that these catacomb crystals are in fact jennamite, the other mineral crystal which is observed to be bendable.16 For further 8 Haynes, CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th ed.; Barbalace, “Periodic Table of Elements.” EnvironmentalChemistry.Com. 9 Samsonov, “Mechanical Properties of the 13 Malvadkar, Forbes, and McGurl, “Coal Resources, Elements.” Formation Of.” 10 Graham and Mattila, “Old Wounds.” 14 Orem and Finkelman, “9.8 - Coal Formation and 11 Wasson, Meteorites. Geochemistry.” 12 Zwyer, Hendrick, and Hamilton, “Venom of the 15 Di Martino and Ehasz, “The Crossroads of Red Lotus”; Di Martino and Ehasz, “The Crossroads Destiny.” of Destiny”; Filoni and Hubbard, “Imprisioned.” 16 Di Martino, The Legend of Korra, 2018. The Phoenix Papers, Vol. 4, No. 2, October 2020 3 speculation on the composition of jennamite, and survival since at least 310 BG.18 Desert see Additional Information. sand is primarily silicon-based as well and is composed overwhelmingly of quartz grains Defining Earthbending with the chemical formula SiO2, silicon dioxide. Quartz is the second most abundant Before any meaningful discussion may mineral in the earth’s crust.19 This seems to be had about the intricacies of earth- and indicate that silicon-based minerals are metalbending, it is necessary to define what commonly bendable. Although this may not constitutes earthbending, and what an be a steadfast rule, it is a solid starting point. earthbender can manipulate. Using a Many metal oxides such as aluminum, geocentric definition to outline this problem calcium, magnesium, and iron oxide form a is tempting, but that line of thinking is considerable amount of the material found in recursive and flawed.