What element that you want to control?

[Drake_XIV]

And why can you not control it in that instant it is by itself?

Because chemistry says it's not that simple.  In a perfect situation, it would be simply O2, but amidst that, all sorts of other elements get thrown into the mix.

[Rutarete]

And why can you not control it in that instant it is by itself?

Because chemistry says it's not that simple.  In a perfect situation, it would be simply O2, but amidst that, all sorts of other elements get thrown into the mix.

But if (as this thread says) you can control one element, then you should be able to.
Or, to give your chemistry a 'perfect' situation, here: A near-complete vacuum space, filled only with 1 Oxygen. Nothing to bond to, nothing to screw it up.

[Drake_XIV]

But if (as this thread says) you can control one element, then you should be able to.
Or, to give your chemistry a 'perfect' situation, here: A near-complete vacuum space, filled only with 1 Oxygen. Nothing to bond to, nothing to screw it up.

Again, control v manipulation.

Because those are the condition in which the OP implies we would have to work under /sarc.  In this case, death from lack of oxygen or death from inability to process the oxygen.

[Rutarete]

But if (as this thread says) you can control one element, then you should be able to.
Or, to give your chemistry a 'perfect' situation, here: A near-complete vacuum space, filled only with 1 Oxygen. Nothing to bond to, nothing to screw it up.

In this case, death from lack of oxygen or death from inability to process the oxygen.

Why do you have to be in the vacuum to control it?

[Drake_XIV]

You don't.  Technically, if you were in a vacuum, there'd be nothing to control.  But I digress.  The issue came from the purity of the compounds, which you have expressed problems with, arguing that it would lead to unintended manipulation of other other elements.

[Rutarete]

You don't.

Then why bring up this?

In this case, death from lack of oxygen or death from inability to process the oxygen.

[Drake_XIV]

Because you've presented a scenario where you were placed in a situation that would otherwise be a vacuum it if weren't for the person and the lone oxygen molecule.

[Absol]

You can purify your substance from impurity FYI. It's as easy as moving atoms of element towards a purer location. Thus, impurity doesn't really matter.
What matters is that elements and compounds have vastly different properties. For example, your usual table salt, NaCl. Na is highly reactive and Cl is highly poisonous (even then it's Cl2 which is poisonous), but NaCl is neither reactive nor poisonous. Thus the question is: do you control only the element (no compound form) or also compound form (which would very likely overlap each other, thus making this kind of ability less diverse)?

[Drake_XIV]

However, the question is do we have the capability to break chemical bonds?  Depending on that, it's not as easy to just strip your element from a subject.  Especially when considering the effects of doing so.

[Demonite]

actually, the main idea was like this: you have an ability to control ONE element. Yes, you can control chemical compounds that have same element such as O2. However, you can't control chemical compounds that have 2 different elements such as NaCl (either you control Na or Cl, just one). Plus, you can co-op with the other element controller (e.g. X is a sodium controller, Y is a chlorine controller, then, together, X and Y can make NaCl). Also, let's say we can break any kind of chemical bonds (since that'll need energy, maybe you can use your own stamina).

N.B.: this allows you to have mountains of gold...

[russianspy1234]

actually, the main idea was like this: you have an ability to control ONE element. Yes, you can control chemical compounds that have same element such as O2. However, you can't control chemical compounds that have 2 different elements such as NaCl (either you control Na or Cl, just one). Plus, you can co-op with the other element controller (e.g. X is a sodium controller, Y is a chlorine controller, then, together, X and Y can make NaCl). Also, let's say we can break any kind of chemical bonds (since that'll need energy, maybe you can use your own stamina).

N.B.: this allows you to have mountains of gold...

it also allows you to make huge explosions.

[Demonite]

actually, the main idea was like this: you have an ability to control ONE element. Yes, you can control chemical compounds that have same element such as O2. However, you can't control chemical compounds that have 2 different elements such as NaCl (either you control Na or Cl, just one). Plus, you can co-op with the other element controller (e.g. X is a sodium controller, Y is a chlorine controller, then, together, X and Y can make NaCl). Also, let's say we can break any kind of chemical bonds (since that'll need energy, maybe you can use your own stamina).

N.B.: this allows you to have mountains of gold...

it also allows you to make huge explosions.

Sure. We'll have that hellish war...