Emergent Processes

An emergent process is a coming together of other processes. It is the whole that is bigger than the sum of its parts. The emergent process has properties that are not predictable based on the constitute processes from which it emerges. For example to take Oxygen which is a reactive element and will form oxides with all other elements except helium, neon, argon and krypton. Add to it Hydrogen which is the most flammable of all the known substances. Observing the properties of these two elements you would not predict the wetness or many other properties of H20 or water.