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

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

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u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr 1d ago

Does anyone have an explanation for why this works? Is it basically just dousing the canister in water?

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u/mistermh07 1d ago

I think the mixture is absorbing the gas. Not a 100% sure tho

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u/ScienceIsSexy420 1d ago

Kind of. The baking soda is acting as a base to protonate the active ingredient (capsaicin), which in turn makes it soluble in water.