The Killer in our Taps

Jumping Spider Water Hat

Source: Joshi, Y. (2013). Water Drop and also a Jumping Spider!. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Water_Drop_and_also_a_jumping_spider!_(9291534974).jpg

Dihydrogen monoxide is a colorless, odorless chemical that is the leading cause of drowning.  Accidental inhalation may be fatal, and prolonged exposure to its solid form could cause severe tissue damage.  Yes, this dangerous chemical can be found in our taps.

What is stated above is not false, however it can be a little misleading.  The common name we know this chemical by is water.  Yes, you drank some today.

According to the website Compound Interest, you would need to drink about 6 liters of water at once if you were an average size male, to be at risk of dying ⁽¹⁾.  That doesn’t sound like too much, but that is the equivalent of around 10 water bottles! (I don’t know about you but I have trouble finishing one).

Despite it’s potential harmful effects, water is actually a really useful chemical.  The difference in charges across the molecule makes it able to bind to a lot of other chemicals, making it the universal solvent ⁽²⁾.

Not only is water attracted to other molecules, but it is extremely attracted to itself too (much like me).  It is attracted more strongly to the other water molecules around it than the air, which is why water droplets are bubble-shaped ⁽³⁾.

Have you ever wondered why we wash things with hot water instead of cold? That is because as you heat up water, the molecules are forced farther apart. The farther apart they are, the weaker the bonds between them.  This makes them more able to bind to the dirty stuff we want to wash off! #Science

⁽¹⁾ Lethal doses of Water, Caffeine and Alcohol. (2015). Retrieved Feb 26, 2017, from http://www.compoundchem.com/2014/07/27/lethaldoses/

⁽²⁾ Water Questions & Answers – Why is water the “universal solvent”? (2016). Retrieved February 28, 2017 from https://water.usgs.gov/edu/qa-solvent.html

⁽³⁾ Surface Tension and Water. (2016). Retrieved February 28, 2017, from https://water.usgs.gov/edu/surface-tension.html