Dihydrogen oxide (or dihydrogen monoxide) is better known as water.
Calling water by this name makes it sound exotic, and there have been
many pranks associated with this. I've gathered some information for
you on the subject.
"Naming Compounds
The formula for water can be H2O or HOH. What are two possible chemical names?
Answer: Although water is the common and preferred name, other
possibilities are: hydrogen monoxide, dihydrogen monoxide, dihydrogen
oxide, hydrogen oxide, hydrogen hydroxide."
Armchair Chemistry: Atoms, Molecules, Formulas & Equations
http://chemsrvr2.fullerton.edu/HES/atoms_molecules/atoms_mol_tchr.htm
"Is America a country of environmental zealots willing to blindly
follow the lead of others? Peter Sparber, a Washington, D.C. business
lobbyist who regularly clashes with environmental groups wanted to
find out. So he tried an experiment.
He put together a mailing list of people who supported banning
pesticide use and sent them a letter from a fictitious group he called
'Stop the Silent Killer Foundation'.
The letter read: 'Dear Mr. Smith: You have been identified as a person
who cares deeply about the future of our fragile planet, the health of
our children and the quality of our nation?s leadership. If we are
right, we need your help, and we need it immediately. As you have
undoubtedly read, dihydrogen oxide has been found to be a major threat
to the environment and to human and animal health... Our polluted
lakes, rivers and oceans are known to contain vast quantities of
dihydrogen oxide. On this, there is no controversy! Contaminated
ground water? Same tragic situation. In California, Missouri and
Georgia families have lost their homes to dihydrogen oxide
contamination. In some applications, dihydrogen oxide is a major
contributor to injuries from falls. In other applications dihydrogen
oxide is a major cause of burns.'...
Dihydrogen oxide is, of course, water. But that did little to stop the
howls of protest that poured into P.O. Box 7178, a mailbox Mr. Sparber
rented out."
Magic Soil: A Little Water Humor
http://www.magicsoil.com/DiHy/DiHydrogen%20Oxide.htm
"Dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) is an obscure name for water used in
variations of a common hoax...
The hoax was apparently created by Eric Lechner and Lars Norpchen in
1990, revised by Craig Jackson in 1994, and was brought to widespread
public attention in 1997, when Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old student,
gathered petitions to ban 'DHMO' as the basis of his science
project...
The water molecule has the chemical formula H2O, meaning each molecule
of water is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
The prefix 'di' means two and 'mono' in 'monoxide' means one. Oxide is
often used to refer to oxygen in compounds. Literally, the term
dihydrogen monoxide means 'two hydrogen, one oxygen', consistent with
the molecular formula... Water has a regular scientific or systematic
name (hydrogen oxide) as well as an alkali name (hydrogen hydroxide)
and several acid names (hydroxic acid, hydroxylic acid, and hydroxilic
acid)."
Wikipedia: Dihydrogen monoxide
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_monoxide
"The term 'dihydrogen monoxide' refers to the chemical bonding of two
(di) hydrogen (H) atoms to one (mono) oxygen (O) atom. Thus, in
chemical nomenclature, this compound would be represented by the
formula H2O, a substance you and I know commonly as water.
'Accidental inhalation of DHMO' = Drowning
'DHMO ingestion' = Drinking
'DHMO withdrawal' = Dehydration...
In March, 2004, the dihydrogen monoxide hoax gained media attention
when city officials in Alisa Viejo, California fell for it. Acting on
the research of a paralegal, the officials were ready to submit a
proposal to city council to ban styrofoam cups and containers at
events requiring licenses from the city. Among the reasons cited for
the ban was the fact that dihydrogen monoxide is used extensively in
the manufacturing process and is known to 'threaten human health and
safety.' After learning they'd fallen for a hoax, officials pulled
their proposal off the agenda."
Break the Chain: Drowning in Dihydrogen Monoxide
http://www.breakthechain.org/exclusives/h2owarning.html
"All dihydrogen monoxide pranks share two things in common: (1) they
are generally based in fact, and (2) they neglect to mention that
'dihydrogen monoxide' is just another name for water.
(Think about it. 'Dihydrogen' indicates two hydrogen atoms, or 'H2.'
'Monoxide' refers to a single oxygen atom, or 'O.' Put them together,
and you get H2O)...
The information is generally factual. For instance, dihydrogen
monoxide is a real chemical compound, also known as water. Under very
extreme conditions, water can cause drowning, hypothermia and other
dangers."
Plastic Mythbuster: Water by Another Name Is Still the Same
http://www.plasticsmythbuster.org/polystyrene.asp
If you find "dihydrogen monoxide" or "dihydrogen oxide" or similar
terms mentioned in relation to hypnosis and Scientology, it is likely
that someone is trying to imply that gullibility is characteristic of
those who are easily hypnotized, or those who subscribe to certain
religious beliefs. Here, for example, is a thread from a hypnosis
forum in which a guest to the forum asks whether there is a substance
that helps to induce hypnosis. Several forum members then make
reference to the supposed use of "hydrogen hydroxide" or "dihydrogen
oxide" as an aid to hypnosis. Later in the thread, they make it quite
obvious that they are kidding:
Hypnosis.com Community Forums: Help inducing
http://forum.hypnosis.com/showthread.php?t=2357
A remarkably elaborate website hoax has been set up to perpetuate the
"dihydrogen monoxide" joke. Scientology receives a mention here, in
the site's "Frequently Asked Questions":
"Some of the well-known uses of Dihydrogen Monoxide are:
- as an industrial solvent and coolant...
- by the Church of Scientology on their members and their members'
families (although surprisingly, many members recently have contacted
DHMO.org to vehemently deny such use)...
- in community swimming pools to maintain chemical balance...
- in animal research laboratories, and
- in pesticide production and distribution."
Facts About Dihydrogen Monoxide
http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html
My Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "dihydrogen monoxide OR oxide" water
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22dihydrogen+monoxide+OR+oxide%22+water
Google Web Search: "dihydrogen monoxide OR oxide" hypnosis
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22dihydrogen+monoxide+OR+oxide%22+hypnosis
Google Web Search: "dihydrogen monoxide OR oxide" joke OR hoax OR prank
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22dihydrogen+monoxide+OR+oxide%22+joke+OR+hoax+OR+prank
I hope this is helpful. If anything is unclear or incomplete, or if a
link doesn't work for you, please request clarification; I'll be glad
to offer further assistance before you rate my answer.
Best regards,
pinkfreud |
