time and the exposure of certain mixtures of the elements have affect on other elements.

i can agree with that.

i work in the chemical industry in Safety.

one of the measurements that we use to determine what Personal Protective Equipment a worker needs is the TEL (time exposure level) or during the course of a shift how much exposure will the employee have to the chemical.

time is not tangible in and of itself, but much of the 'time' the affects/effects are.