Dihydrogen Monoxide - A Misunderstood Chemical in Our Environment

Because environmental consciousness is something that is growing around the world and because pollution has a possible affect on climate change and global warming, I'd like to share some of my insights and concerns about dihydrogen monoxide through this educational Squidoo lens. If you are going to learn to respect and preserve our fragile environment, you must learn the terminology and properties that it entails.

I've been fascinated with this dihydrogen monoxide for as long as I can remember. Over the years I've learned to respect some of this substance's nasty properties as well.

Overview

Dihydrogen monoxide is a substance that is not well-understood by the average person, even though they are exposed to many aspects of it every day. Dihydrogen monoxide is commonly found in the world's oceans, rivers, and streams. It has also been found in the world's ice caps and glaciers and is a prevalent component of acid rain. In fact, dihydrogen monoxide is found in the human body and in other organisms. Although it is required for health and fitness, much in the same way as other chemicals such as zinc, chromium, phytonutrients, niacin, and so on, in excess amounts, it can be deadly.

States and Characteristics

In its gaseous state, it is invisible. In its room temperature liquid state, it is transparent. In its pure and crystalline solid state, it is also transparent. It generally has no odor and thus is sometimes difficult to detect (unless you have a whole lot of it). Depending on what other chemical substances are co-existing with it, dihydrogen monoxide can take on various colorations, transparencies, odors, and other characteristics.

Hazards, Threats, and Dangerous Aspects

Each dihydrogen monoxide state presents a different hazard.

The heated gaseous state can be deadly if inhaled or if too much skin is exposed to it. The liquid state at whatever temperature can cause asphyxiation and death with as little as a few cubic centimeters or milliliters if inhaled. The liquid state can also become toxic if an ingestion limit is exceeded (it has different toxicities for different body sizes and metabolisms).  The solid state can disrupt human and other organisms' motion to the point of freezing all movement.  Conversely, large flat areas of solid dihydrogen monoxide can reduce friction such that any kind of traction with normal means on these areas is difficult if not impossible.  And, large enough masses of dihydrogen monoxide in the solid state have been recorded to totally immobilize and destroy the largest of vehicles of even Titanic proportions.

Dihydrogen monoxide is a solvent that can be used in disassociating other ionic compounds such as sodium and potassium chloride salts, hydrogen chloride, sodium hydroxide, and other substances.

As An Acceptable Alternate Energy Source

Dihydrogen monoxide is a highly valuable energy source that can provide an alternate to fossil fuels (oil, coal).

Composed of two highly reactive elements--hydrogen and oxygen; the combination of which can produce explosive force. This explosive force is so powerful that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has used these two elements to propel the most massive vehicles into space--those ranging from the Mercury space capsules through the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs.

Dihydrogen monoxide can be used for energy transfer and provision mostly with its gaseous and liquid states.  The gaseous state can provide necessary pressures from the expanding gas to power turbines or generators.  Likewise, the hydraulic pressure and force of the liquid state is also useful in powering differently designed turbines, electric generators, and other mechanical devices that can harness the hydraulic power.

Safety Precautions

Although some organisms can live totally immersed in dihydrogen monoxide, many other organisms (humans included) cannot tolerate total immersion for extended periods of time (more than 1 to 3 minutes normally) without access to proper atmospheric and environmental considerations.

As with standard practices for any hazardous material, entry into areas filled with dihydrogen monoxide must observe proper safety precautions. Breathing apparatus may be required--either a self-contained breathing apparatus (similar to what fire-fighters or hazmat workers use) or a tethered pumped-air-supply hose or air-supply access tube.

Not only must one wear protective gear and equipment, but one must also be aware of the various organisms that might be living in or near large areas of dihydrogen monoxide--some of which are extremely dangerous to human and other organisms.

Prolonged exposure of the skin to dihydrogen monoxide may cause hydration and wrinkling. Yet, an absence of dihydrogen monoxide can eventually lead to dehydration.