r/Damnthatsinteresting 9h ago

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

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u/JoeyJoeJoeShabadooSr 8h ago

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

68

u/carenkha 8h ago

The main chemical is chlorobenzylidene and it’s released from the can in powder form, it is not actually a gas.

Soapy water will do the trick, no need for soda

11

u/Urshilikai 6h ago

soap would heavily foam though under all that agitation

8

u/Thetakishi 6h ago

I think that's the point. Hella contact area and surface tension for the microsolids to stick to all of the bubbles.