City falls victim to Internet hoax, considers banning items made with water

AP ^ | March 14, 2004

[Cultural Jihad]

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. (AP) - City officials were so concerned about the potentially dangerous properties of dihydrogen monoxide that they considered banning foam cups after they learned the chemical was used in their production.

Then they learned that dihydrogen monoxide - H2O for short - is the scientific term for water.

[kennedy]

They first decided to ban styrofoam and then directed a paralegal to come up with a reason to support it. Now they have to start over and come up with a new reason to support what they have already decided to do.

Isn't that how most "environmental protection" decisions are made?

[Cultural Jihad]

Sand:
http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~russ/MSDS/sand.htm

Salt:
http://ptcl.chem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/SO/sodium_chloride.html

[Arthur McGowan]

DHMO is also a major component of sewage!

[aomagrat]

Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing.

Good grief! How did we ever survive a trip to the beach.

[TankerKC]

DMHO is the least of our worries!

Is Bread Causing Global Warming?

[Cultural Jihad]

I agree with your assessment. Junk science setting public policy is a bad thing. These crusaders against production (and consumption) like to think of themselves as enlightened humanists, but really are ruled by fantasies, superstitions, and irrationality.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Was looking for the "hazard sheet" that's been around the web for years

This one??

MSDS: Dihydrogen Monoxide

Dihydrogen monoxide (also known as hydric acid) is responsible for injury, death, and property damage all over the world. Visit the Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division online at www.dhmo.org, or send email to info@dhmo.org for more information.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET FOR   DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PRODUCT NAME:     DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE
FORMULA WT:          18.00
CAS NO.:          07732-18-5
NIOSH/RTECS NO.:  ZC0110000
COMMON SYNONYMS:  DIHYDROGEN OXIDE, HYDRIC ACID
PRODUCT CODES:    4218,4219
  EFFECTIVE: 05/30/86     
  REVISION #01   

LABORATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

SAFETY GLASSES; LAB COAT

PRECAUTIONARY LABEL STATEMENTS

STORAGE:  KEEP IN TIGHTLY CLOSED CONTAINER.

BOILING POINT:      100 C (   212 F)          VAPOR PRESSURE(MM HG): 17.5

MELTING POINT:        0 C (    32 F)          VAPOR DENSITY(AIR=1):  N/A

SPECIFIC GRAVITY:  1.00                       EVAPORATION RATE:      N/A

SOLUBILITY(H2O):     COMPLETE (IN ALL PROPORTIONS) % VOLATILES BY VOLUME: 100

APPEARANCE & ODOR:  ODORLESS, CLEAR COLORLESS LIQUID.

TOXICITY:   LD50 (IPR-MOUSE)(G/KG)          -  190
            LD50 (IV-MOUSE) (MG/KG)         -  25

DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
  DISPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
  ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.

SAF-T-DATA(TM) STORAGE COLOR CODE:     ORANGE (GENERAL STORAGE)

SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
  KEEP CONTAINER TIGHTLY CLOSED. SUITABLE FOR ANY GENERAL CHEMICAL STORAGE
  AREA. DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE IS CONSIDERED A NON-REGULATED PRODUCT, BUT
  REACTS VIGOROUSLY WITH SOME MATERIALS. THESE INCLUDE SODIUM, POTASSIUM
  AND OTHER ALKALI METALS; ELEMENTAL FLUORINE; AND STRONG DEHYDRATING AGENTS
  SUCH AS SULFURIC ACID. IT FORMS EXPLOSIVE GASES WITH CALCIUM CARBIDE.
  AVOID CONTACT WITH ALL MATERIALS UNTIL INVESTIGATION SHOWS SUBSTANCE IS 
  COMPATIBLE. EXPANDS SIGNIFICANTLY UPON FREEZING. DO NOT STORE IN RIGID
  CONTAINER AND PROTECT FROM FREEZING.

DOMESTIC (D.O.T.)

PROPER SHIPPING NAME     CHEMICALS, N.O.S. (NON-REGULATED)

INTERNATIONAL (I.M.O.)

PROPER SHIPPING NAME     CHEMICALS, N.O.S. (NON-REGULATED)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Original is HERE

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Good grief! How did we ever survive a trip to the beach.

We didn’t. Between the silica, the dihydrogen monoxide and the sodium chloride we must have died. This is the afterlife.

I have to admit, it isn’t quite what I was expecting.

[Trillian]

That link was hilarious!

[Cultural Jihad]

Sheesh. They must have rounded off the boiling and melting points of Dihydrogen Monoxide, the slackers!

[Sofa King]

Wow, that must make DHMO a major component of liberal thought!

[quietolong]

It’s because there trying to name it from the imperial formula. They vaguely remember something from wayyyy back on how chemicals are named.
Water is fairly simple. But other more complex chemicals can have many of these types of bonds. Making the true formula somewhat long & obtuse. And when you just want to know what atoms are in something. So the chemist just simplify. They add up all the atoms of each type and write that down.
Most of the times the imperial and true formula are one and the same.... But not all the time! Water is one of those not all the times.
It like for those of you who remember learning how to balance chemical equations. You think you got it this is simple..... Then your teacher throws you some Redox equations at you. Some of those special cases where the normal way of doing it don’t work
And then we can get into Hydrides.....;)

[Cultural Jihad]

Done in by the silica, the dihydrogen monoxide, and the sodium chloride ...

[GladesGuru]

The Sheeples Republic of FloriDUH has out dumbed the Navy! A teacher friend told me that the Public School Administration "Safety Office" has issued a pronunciamento ex cathedra wherein no school science lab could have more than one bag of sand in the supply room.


Conceivable, one could drown in enough water; but what harm could there be in, gasp!!, two bags of sand?

Only the administrator knows for sure. One hopes.

[GladesGuru]

" - getting them out will be a real bitch."

Not a bit*h at all. Just shut down the agency and start over. Once their salary stops, they will go away.

[quietolong]

Actually you can have more fun using the right name!
If you say dihydrogen monoxide most people go. hmm whats that. ok. BUT if you say Hydrogen Hydroxide most freak and go keep that away from me!
It’s the Hydroxide part that gets them because the first thing that they think of is lye or Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2 ) and some times bleach.

BTW lye, Hydrogen Peroxide and bleach are NOT different names for the same thing.

[brityank]

Ah, Yes! But will they find the styrofoam?

Just what do you think those little spherules are? Styrofoam beads do harden when exposed to ultra-violent radiation, and there is little atmosphere to stop the Sun's rays.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Conceivable, one could drown in enough water; but what harm could there be in, gasp!!, two bags of sand?

Twice as many people with homemade blackjacks?

[Fiddlstix]

Hmmmm.......
Interesting point J

[Tunehead54]

A little known fact: Apparently the hops utilized in Corona Extra or Heineken seem to render the dihydrogen monoxide harmless in small quantities although excessive urination has been reported by some. Despite the dangers I will continue my research and report back periodically assuming I survive.

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The things I do for science! ;-)