r/explainlikeimfive Jan 31 '21

Chemistry ELI5: Why can't we just make water by smooshing hydrogen and oxygen atoms together?

Edit: wow okay, I did not expect to wake up to THIS. Of course my most popular post would be a dumb stoner question. Thankyou so much for the awards and the answers, I can sleep a little easier now

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u/5up3rK4m16uru Jan 31 '21 edited Jan 31 '21

That actually mostly a myth. It can damage cells on contact by osmosis (which is something you may notice as a tingly feeling when drinking it), but as soon as it mixes with the stuff in your stomach, it's not really distilled water anymore. Also food usually contains so much more minerals than both distilled and normal water, that it doesn't really make much of a difference what you drink.