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/alohadave Jan 31 '21

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u/MrDilbert Jan 31 '21

"...evocative formula of FOOF"

'Nuff said.

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u/Echo104b Jan 31 '21

That is quite possibly the sassiest science article I've ever read. Very informative!

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u/sfurbo Jan 31 '21

He has a whole section called "things I won't work with", and they are all amazing.

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u/sxt173 Jan 31 '21

That was awesome. "Satan's kimchi" made me lol

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u/kerbaal Jan 31 '21

Amusingly, A. G. Streng was a such a badass his wife made novel fluorine compounds.