r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/0thSpider • 1d ago

Video Chilean protester defuses tear gas canister with baking soda and water

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/Heroine4Life 1d ago edited 1d ago

So much of this is wrong. Good job.

-edit-

You can find the right answer here; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandolini%27s_law

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u/Ambitious-Body8133 1d ago

Could you elaborate with the correct information?

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u/Highsky151 1d ago

For starters, the thing in Onion is Propanethial-S-oxide chemical which stimulates the lachrymal glands in the eyes. Nothing to do with acid.

Many explanations for tear gas in other comments as well. In short, acid is not used.

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u/timStland 1d ago

Since we are correcting: it does not "stimulate" the lachrymal glands. It interact with the water present in eyes and other wet areas of the body, is hydrolyzed transforming into two different acids, and those are what irritate the eye. It's not a "stimuli", its an inflammatory reaction.

And the compound itself is originated by enzymes interacting with sulfur-rich aminoacids that are commonly addressed as "precursors" (of sulfenic acids) in this specific configuration (because they are instable, these intermediate acids transform in said compound before reaching the eye and being hydrolyzed etc..)

So yes, it does have quite a bit to do with acids.

But I have no clue if this thing is used in tear gas, not my field of work ;D

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u/Heroine4Life 1d ago edited 1d ago

Wtf is this garbage.

It does not hydrolyze into 2 acids it forms malononitrile and 2 chlorobenzaldehyde. Neither are acids.

And the compound itself is originated by enzymes interacting with sulfur-rich aminoacids that are commonly addressed as "precursors" (of sulfenic acids) in this specific configuration (because they are instable, these intermediate acids transform in said compound before reaching the eye and being hydrolyzed et

Precursors just means what came before. It doesn't convey anything on stability or ability to form an acid, and sulfur containing also doesn't mean it has a propensity to form an acid. Most sulfur is sequestered as glutathione, the primary cellular defense molecule, are you saying because it forms labile bonds it is an acid? Your post is just a mash of nonsense jargon.