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Molecular Manipulation is a collective term referring to several molecular-based powers. In general, this power allows users to manipulate matter on a molecular level. Most branches of this power involve manipulating the speed of molecules.

While the potential of this power in its full form could be limitless, most users only possess one or a few aspects of this power. Piper Halliwell is the only known user to possess several aspects of this power.

Molecular Manipulation can be used to achieve several effects. Piper has displayed the ability to create fire and heat with Molecular Combustion and Molecular Acceleration, while Molecular Inhibition can be used to create ice.

Types of Molecular Manipulation

Molecular Acceleration

Piper heats up a pot

Molecular Acceleration is the ability to make molecules reverberate at a speed which causes them to become disordered, this causes the object to rapidly heat up. As a result of this heat, the power can cause a target to melt or ignite. Piper developed this ability in 2008, as seen when she intended to blow up the resurrected Source of All Evil: though it did not work on him, it made the road below him melt, enabling the Charmed Ones to escape. This ability was later theorised to be the result of Piper having mastered a higher level of control over her more extreme power of molecular combustion.

Molecular Combustion

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Main article: Molecular Combustion

Molecular Combustion (usually referred to on the show as blasting or blowing up) is the power to speed up molecules to the point of combustion, causing an explosion. It is an advancement of Piper Halliwell's original Warren-witch power of Molecular Immobilization. It is an extremely rare power, and the strongest offensive power possessed by the Charmed Ones. Piper picked this up shortly before Prue's death, making Piper the most powerful of the Charmed Ones.

Molecular Deceleration

BaxterMolecularDeceleration

Molecular Deceleration is a magical power that enables the user to slow down molecules, causing individuals or objects have a delayed motion. It is related to the power of Molecular Immobilization and is apparently neutral, being possessed by both good and evil individuals. However, it may be just a benevolent power, as Cole Turner may have taken it from a demon who, in turn, had stolen it from a good individual.

Molecular Dispersion

CroneDispersion
Main article: Molecular Dispersion

Molecular Dispersion is the power to destroy a target by reducing it to its constituent molecules by giving them massive amounts of energy which forces them to scatter. It is very similar to Molecular Combustion in which molecules are ripped apart, but without any combustion. After the Parasite Demons exposed the Demonic Market, The Crone kills one of them with this power.

Molecular Immobilization

PiperFreezesCrimeScene

Molecular Immobilization (usually referred to as 'freezing' or — incorrectly — as temporal stasis) is the magical ability to slow down molecules to the point where they move so slowly that things and people appear motionless; therefore "freezing" the target completely. Piper Halliwell, a Charmed One, developed this power in her first year of being a witch. When she first used this power, it could only be triggered by Piper panicking or her being scared of something, during which she flicked her hands and "froze" the target". However, her powers advanced to the point where she could control when and what she froze and unfroze, not having to rely on this trigger.

Molecular Inhibition

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Main article: Molecular Inhibition

Molecular Inhibition, also called Ice Stasis, is a more extreme form of Molecular Immobilization which allows users to completely stop the movement of molecules, causing them to lose energy and be attracted together tightly, crystallizing. The result resembles Cryokinesis. It immediately crystallizes an object or being, encapsulating them in ice. Ice Stasis literally means stopping motion with ice.

Molecular Reversion

Reversion

Molecular Reversion is the ability to shift molecules back into their previous order and state. This can be used to revert transformed objects and beings back to their natural form. While inside the Nexus of the All, Piper Halliwell became able to use her powers to their full potential, allowing her to revert the soldiers Rennek created from various objects to their original forms. It is hinted that Piper's powers will advance to this stage naturally at some point in the future.

List of Users

Molecular Deceleration Molecular Immobilization Molecular Inhibition

P. Baxter, Cole Turner, Kat Mitchell

Melinda Warren, Patty Halliwell, Piper Halliwell, Zahn

Piper Halliwell (temporarily)

Molecular Acceleration Molecular Combustion Molecular Dispersion
Piper Halliwell and Tamora Mitchell

Piper Halliwell

The Crone, Gideon, Female Possessor Demon

Gallery

Notes and Trivia

Molecular Manipulation
  • It is possible that Piper, whose powers are naturally based on a molecular level, could gain all aspects of this power in the future. While in the Nexus of The All, Piper's powers were augmented, allowing her to revert the soldiers that Rennek created from plants and other objects back to their original states by manipulating molecules with her mind alone.
  • So far, Piper can create fire and heat with both Molecular Combustion and Acceleration.
  • Piper Halliwell is the only witch that possess more than one power of Molecular Manipulation.
    • However, Tamora's and Kat's powers could advance into other aspects of Molecular Manipulation as they get older. 
  • Aside from having different functions, Molecular Immobilization and Molecular Combustion work differently from each other. Whenever Piper freezes something, the entire room or localized area along with its inhabitants become frozen, unless she intentionally freezes one or more subjects which is considered selective freezing. When she explodes something, she has to aim at her target in order for it to explode and has the potential of missing it, similar to throwing a projectile.
    • This is also shown on the growth of Piper's powers. She started out freezing the entire area to only a specific part of the area while she was only capable of blasting a single target to hitting multiple targets at once.
  • Piper is the only being in the show seen using many aspects of this power. Aside from possessing Molecular Immobilization, combustion, and acceleration she has also displayed:

See Also

References

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