Dihydrogen monoxide hoax
623166
225837537
2008-07-15T17:06:06Z
J.delanoy
2372780
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/208.125.80.210|208.125.80.210]] to last version by FlamingSilmaril (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
:''"Dihydrogen monoxide" redirects here. For the H<sub>2</sub>O molecule, see [[water (molecule)]].''
[[Image:Water molecule.svg|thumb|right|[[Water]] is made from 2 [[hydrogen]] and one [[oxygen]] atom, giving the name dihydrogen monoxide.]]
The '''dihydrogen monoxide hoax''' involves listing negative effects of water under an unfamiliar scientific name, then asking individuals to help control the seemingly dangerous substance (caused by most people knowing the word "monoxide" as part of the name of the poisonous gas "[[carbon monoxide]]"). The [[hoax]] is designed to illustrate how the lack of [[science|scientific]] knowledge and an exaggerated analysis can lead to misplaced fears.<ref name=Carder>{{citation|last1=Carder|first1=L|last2=Willingham|first2=P.|last3=Bibb|first3=D.|title=Case-based, problem-based learning: Information literacy for the real world|journal=Research Strategies|volume=18|year=2001|pages=181-190|url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0734331002000873}}.</ref> Dihydrogen monoxide, shortened to DHMO, is a scientific name for [[water (molecule)|water]] that, while technically correct, is almost never employed.
The hoax was created by Eric Lechner, Lars Norpchen and Matthew Kaufman, housemates while attending [[UC Santa Cruz]] in 1990,<ref> {{citation|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.humor.funny/browse_thread/thread/3f985a069a2a19d8/||title=Warning! Dangerous Contamination! (original usenet posting)|publisher=Usenet rec.humor.funny archive|year=1990|publication-date=[[February 23]], [[1990]]|author=Erich Lechner}}
</ref> revised by Craig Jackson in 1994,<ref name=greatmoments>{{citation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1631494.htm|title=Mysterious Killer Chemical|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|first=Karl S.|last=Kruszelnicki|year=2006}}.</ref> and 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, titled "How Gullible Are We?"<ref name="snopes">[http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp Dihydrogen Monoxide] from [[Urban Legends Reference Pages]], accessed 25 September 2006.</ref>
== Original Web appearance ==
The first appearance on the web was attributed by the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'' to the so-called ''Coalition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide'',<ref name=Gazette>{{citation|publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|publication-date=April 19, 1997|year=1997|title=Internet-inspired prank lands 4 teens in hot water|first=Dennis B.|last=Roddy.}}</ref><ref name=greatmoments/> a hoax organization started by Craig Jackson following the initial newsgroup discussions. The site included the following "warning":<ref name="DHMO coalition">{{citation|url=http://web.archive.org/web/19961031232918/http://media.circus.com/~no_dhmo/|title=Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide!|author=Craig Jackson|publisher=Coalition to ban DHMO|year=1994}}. {{citation|url=http://web.archive.org/web/19970125144038/media.circus.com/~no_dhmo/members.html|title=Coalition to ban DHMO officers|publisher=Coalition to ban DHMO}}.</ref>
<!-- NOTE TO EDITORS: This is a quote from a prior website posting. DO NOT MAKE CONTENT CHANGES TO QUOTES. -->
{{quotation|
Dihydrogen monoxide:
*is called "[[hydroxyl]] [[acid]]", the substance is the major component of [[acid rain]].
*contributes to the "[[greenhouse effect]]".
*may cause severe burns.
*contributes to the [[erosion]] of our natural landscape.
*accelerates [[corrosion]] and rusting of many metals.
*may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
*has been found in excised [[tumor]]s of terminal [[cancer]] patients.
Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:
* as an industrial solvent and coolant.
* in nuclear power plants.
* in the production of styrofoam.
* as a fire retardant.
* in many forms of cruel animal research.
* in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
* as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.
}}
The original webpage is no longer accessible, but a [[October 31]] [[1996]] version has been [[Mirror (computing)|mirrored]] by [[The Internet Archive]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.archive.org/web/19961031232918/http://media.circus.com/~no_dhmo/ |title=Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide!}}</ref>
== Terminology ==
[[Image:Drinking water.jpg|thumb|right|"Dihydrogen Monoxide" in its liquid form.]]
"Dihydrogen monoxide" may sound dangerous to those with a limited knowledge of chemistry or who hold to an ideal of a "chemical-free" life.<ref name="snopes"/> The term ''monoxide'' has negative connotations due to its being part of the name of the highly [[poison]]ous [[carbon monoxide]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
The [[Water (molecule)|water molecule]] has the [[chemical formula]] H<sub>2</sub>O, meaning each [[molecule]] of water is composed of two [[hydrogen]] [[atom]]s and one [[oxygen]] atom. Literally, the term "dihydrogen monoxide" means "two hydrogen, one oxygen", consistent with its molecular formula: the prefix ''[[Wiktionary:di-|di-]]'' in ''dihydrogen'' means "two", the prefix ''[[Wiktionary:mono-|mono-]]'' in ''monoxide'' means "one", and an [[oxide]] is a compound that contains one or more oxygen atoms.<ref name=nomenclature>{{citation|url=http://science.widener.edu/svb/pset/nomen_b.html|title=Chemical Nomenclature|first1=S.E.|last1=Van Bramer|year=1996}}.</ref>
The use of numerical prefixes is typical nomenclature for compounds formed by [[covalent bond]]s, which are present in water.<ref>Leigh, G. J. ''et al.'' 1998. [http://www.iupac.org/publications/books/principles/principles_of_nomenclature.pdf ''Principles of chemical nomenclature: a guide to IUPAC recommendations''], p. 28. Blackwell Science Ltd, UK. ISBN 0-86542-685-6.</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/biology/bio4fv/page/polar_c.htm|contribution=Polar Covalent Bonds|title=Biology 4|publisher=[[City University of New York]]|first=James|last=Nishiura}}.</ref> The prefix for the first named element is often dropped if the elements involved commonly form only one compound, or even if the number of atoms of the first-named element is the same in all the compounds of the two (or more) elements.<ref name=nomenclature/> Thus H<sub>2</sub>S is often simply called [[hydrogen sulfide]], and [[lithium oxide]] is a common name for Li<sub>2</sub>O. However, the names dihydrogen sulfide,<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/pdf/7783064.pdf|title=Dihydrogen sulfide|author=Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment|publisher=California Environmental Protection Agency}}.</ref> dilithium oxide,<ref>{{citation|url=http://cccbdb.nist.gov/diagnostics.asp|title=Diagnostics on calculations: Species with negative natural orbital occupation numbers|publisher=National Institutes of Health}}</ref> and dilithium monoxide<ref>{{citation|url=http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=82891&loc=ec_rcs|title=Lithium oxide|publisher=PubChem public chemical database}}</ref> are also commonly used both in industry and in universities.
The mono- prefix is often dropped for the second-named element if it is the only common compound the elements form.<ref>Leigh, G. J. ''et al.'' 1998. [http://www.iupac.org/publications/books/principles/principles_of_nomenclature.pdf ''Principles of chemical nomenclature: a guide to IUPAC recommendations''], p. 28. Blackwell Science Ltd, UK. ISBN 0-86542-685-6: "''The multiplicative prefixes may not be necessary if the oxidation states are explicit or are clearly understood.''"</ref> Thus for instance the [[IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry|IUPAC]] name of H<sub>2</sub>S is hydrogen sulfide rather than hydrogen monosulfide.<ref>{{citation|url=http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=402|title=Hydrogen sulfide|publisher=PubChem public chemical database}}.</ref> However, since carbon and oxygen can form several compounds (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, [[carbon suboxide|tricarbon dioxide]], and [[dicarbon monoxide]]), the mono- prefix is kept, as it is with silicon monoxide and silicon dioxide. Indeed, hydrogen and oxygen do form another common compound, [[hydrogen peroxide|H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>]]. (Using prefix nomenclature, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> would be called dihydrogen dioxide—also known as [[hydrogen peroxide]].) Thus, keeping the mono- in dihydrogen monoxide does serve to distinguish it from another compound.
Water has a regular scientific or [[systematic name]] of '''hydrogen oxide''', as well as an [[alkali]] name of '''hydrogen hydroxide''' and several acid names such as '''hydroxic acid''', '''hydroxylic acid''', and '''hydroxilic acid'''. Incidentally, the term "hydroxyl acid" used in the original hoax is slightly incorrect, as it does not follow [[Naming acids#Nomenclature|convention]]. Additional names of μ-oxido dihydrogen and oxidane have been developed for this compound.
Under the 2005 revisions of [[IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry]], there is no single correct name for every compound.<ref name=IUPAC2004>IUPAC Report: General Aims, Functions and Methods of Chemical Nomenclature (March 2004) http://www.iupac.org/reports/provisional/abstract04/RB-prs310804/Chap1-3.04.pdf</ref> The primary function of chemical nomenclature is to ensure that the person who hears or reads a chemical name is under no ambiguity as to which chemical compound it refers: each name should refer to a single substance. It is considered less important to ensure that each substance should have a single name, although the number of acceptable names is limited.<ref name=IUPAC2004 /> Water is one acceptable name for this compound. The other IUPAC recommendation is ''oxidane''.<ref>Leigh, G. J. ''et al.'' 1998. [http://www.iupac.org/publications/books/principles/principles_of_nomenclature.pdf ''Principles of chemical nomenclature: a guide to IUPAC recommendations''], p. 99. Blackwell Science Ltd, UK. ISBN 0-86542-685-6</ref>
== Public efforts involving DHMO ==
[[Image:DMRDlogo.gif|right|thumb|The logo of [http://www.dhmo.org DHMO.org], primary current residence of the dihydrogen monoxide hoax]]
* In 1989, Eric Lechner, Lars Norpchen and Matthew Kaufman circulated a Dihydrogen Monoxide contamination warning on the [[UC Santa Cruz]] Campus via photocopied fliers.<ref>[http://www.matthew.at/dhm.pdf The original poster circulated at UC Santa Cruz (PDF)]</ref> The concept originated one afternoon when Matthew recalled a similar warning about "Hydrogen Hydroxide" that had been published in his mother's hometown paper, the Durand (Michigan) Express, and the three then worked to coin a term that "sounded more dangerous". Eric typed up the original warning flier on Matthew's computer, and a trip to the local photocopying center followed that night.
* In 1994, Craig Jackson created a web page for the Coalition to Ban DHMO.<ref name="DHMO coalition"/> The page spread widely on the net and off, including publication as an ad in a 1995 issue of ''[[Analog Magazine]]''.{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
* [http://www.armory.com/~crisper/DHMO/ The Friends of Hydrogen Hydroxide] was created by [[Dan Curtis Johnson]] partly as a foil on the Coalition page, to provide evidence of 'misguided' supporters of dihydrogen monoxide. This form of collaborative connivance is a classic tool of internet spoofers.
* In 1997, Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old junior high student at Eagle Rock Junior High School in [[Idaho Falls, Idaho]], gathered 43 votes to ban the chemical, out of 50 people surveyed among his classmates. Zohner received the first prize at Greater Idaho Falls [[science fair|Science Fair]] for analysis of the results of his survey.<ref name="snopes"/> In recognition of his experiment, journalist [[James K. Glassman]] coined the term "Zohnerism" to refer to "the use of a true fact to lead a scientifically and mathematically ignorant public to a false conclusion."<ref>{{cite news |first=James K |last=Glassman |authorlink=James K. Glassman |title=Dihydrogen Monoxide: Unrecognized Killer |url=http://www.junkscience.com/news/glassman.html |work=[[The Washington Post]] |date=[[1997]] |accessdate=2007-03-08}}</ref>
* In 1998, drawing inspiration from Jackon's web page and Zohner's research, Tom Way created the hoax website http://www.DHMO.org, including links to some legitimate sites such as the [[Environmental Protection Agency]] and [[National Institutes of Health]]. Evaluating such sites can be instructive in developing [[critical thinking]] and [[information literacy]] skills.<ref name=Carder/>
* On [[April 1]], [[1998]] ([[April Fools' Day]]), a member of the [[Australian Parliament]] announced a campaign to ban dihydrogen monoxide internationally.<ref>{{citation|title=Campaign launched against dihydrogen monoxide|publisher=[[Deutsche Presse-Agentur]]|year=1998|publication-date=[[April 1]], 1998}}.</ref>
*In 2001 a staffer in [[New Zealand Green Party]] MP [[Sue Kedgley]]'s office responded to a request for support for a campaign to ban dihydrogen monoxide by saying she was "absolutely supportive of the campaign to ban this toxic substance". This was criticised in press releases by the National Party, whom 6 years later ironically had one of their MPs fall for the very same hoax.<ref name="DeanAndKedgely">
{{cite web
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| title = MP tries to ban water
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| publisher = New Zealand Herald
| date = 2007-09-14
| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10463579
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* The idea was used for a segment of an episode of the [[Penn & Teller]] show ''[[Bullshit!]]'', in which an actor and a camera crew gathered signatures from concerned environmentalists who wanted to ban DHMO.<ref>{{citation|title="Penn & Teller: Bullshit!" Environmental Hysteria (2003)|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0672528/|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]}}</ref>
* In March 2004, [[Aliso Viejo, California]] almost considered banning the use of foam containers at city-sponsored events because dihydrogen monoxide is part of their production. A paralegal had asked the [[city council]] to put it on the agenda; he later attributed it to poor research.<ref>[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4534017/ Local officials nearly fall for H<sub>2</sub>O hoax], at [[MSNBC]] 15 March 2004, accessed 25 September 2006.</ref> The law was pulled from the agenda before it could come to a vote, but not before the city received a raft of bad publicity.<ref name=snopes/>
*In 2006, in [[Louisville, Kentucky]], David Karem, executive director of the Waterfront Development Corporation, a public body that operates [[Louisville Waterfront Park|Waterfront Park]], which features a large, accessible public fountain, wished to deter bathers from using the fountain. "Counting on a lack of understanding about water's chemical makeup," he arranged for signs reading: "DANGER WATER - CONTAINS HIGH LEVELS OF HYDROGEN - KEEP OUT" to be posted on the fountain at public expense.<ref>[http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS01/607170372&SearchID=73251038596946 ''Water'' without ''hydrogen would warrant warning''], [[Louisville Courier-Journal]], Monday, July 17, 2006 (link inactive as of Friday, May 18, 2007)</ref><ref>[http://pubs.acs.org/cen/newscripts/84/8443newscripts.html Danger! H in H<sub>2</sub>O], [[Chemical & Engineering News]], October 23, 2006 [http://www.webcitation.org/5OwIq682q webcite mirror]</ref>
* An online [http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ban-DHMO/ petition] to the British prime minister was correctly identified by [[Number Ten|the prime minister's office]] as a hoax, and rejected.
* In one episode of the children's science show ''[[How 2]]'', Fred Dinenage used a glass of water in a perspex box to carry out the hoax, before drinking the water then explaining the truth.
* In 2007 [[Jacqui Dean]], New Zealand National Party MP, fell for the hoax, writing a letter to Associate Minister of Health [[Jim Anderton]] asking "Does the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs have a view on the banning of this drug?"<ref>{{cite web
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| title = Questions And Answers - Wednesday, 12 September 07
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| publisher = Scoop
| date = 2007-09-13
| url = http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0709/S00224.htm
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{{cite web
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| title = PDF file of related correspondence
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| publisher = Scoop
| date = 2007-09-13
| url = http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0709/DeanDHMO.pdf
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==See also==
*[[Chemical nomenclature]]
*[[Chemophobia]]
*[[Parody science]]
*[[Water intoxication]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
* [http://www.netreach.net/~rjones/no_dhmo.html Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide!]
* [http://www.armory.com/~crisper/DHMO/ Friends of Hydrogen Hydroxide]
* [http://www.geocities.com/thetropics/8092/dhmo.htm Mirror of first web publication]
** [http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/dhmofoot.htm Some responses by college students]
* [http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_ban_dhmo.htm About.com article]
* [http://www.dhmo.tk/ ''Dihydrogen Monoxide''] Kate Dalgleish and Mikael Sydor's DHMO movie
[[Category:Hoaxes in science]]
[[Category:Water and politics]]
[[Category:Professional humor]]
[[Category:Hydrogen compounds]]
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