RE: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] marriage

[Neil Bradshaw <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

Bathing in lye makes sense so long as it's diluted. When you have a very
small amount of lye in an overall amount of water, you'll probably be
okay. Pure lye, a.k.a. NaOH (Soduim Hydroxide), will fuck you up. You saw
Fight Club, no doubt. 'Nuff said.

Pop quiz: what's the chemical formula for soap, and what is it commonly
called? Answer after my .sig

Hydroxide is the foundation of bases. Bases either contain OH-
or makes it when it reacts with water. Interesting fact: combine NaOH with
HCl (the ever-so-famous Hydrochloric Acid) and you'll get something really
nifty. It's not that hard to realize when you think about it. NaOH + HCl =
NaCl + H20. Tada! And no balancing, either!

So, if you ever get bored and want to make salt water, now you know
how. Getting pure NaOH and HCl, however, is another matter.

It should also be noted, though, that bases can burn you just as bad as
acids. Pour either NaOH or HCl on your skin in it's undiluted form and you
will beg for a neutralizing agent.

Regards,
Neil

Soap is sodium stearate, NaC18H35O2 (really hard to write out this way),
a sodium salt of stearic acid (a.k.a. skin conditioner). Look for it on a
soap label coming near you.

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