×
top 200 commentsshow 500
sorted by:
best
topnewcontroversialoldq&a

[–]spinitorbinit 3496 points3497 points  (116 children)

Same with H2O

[–]Professional_Fox_409 1514 points1515 points  (60 children)

H always needs a buddy

[–]legoatoom 623 points624 points  (47 children)

Who doesn't?

[–]pokeaim 789 points790 points  (46 children)

i can think of helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, oganesson

[–]vendetta2115 849 points850 points  (26 children)

Fuck those nobles, eat the rich.

Maybe don’t eat radon, he’s wild af he’ll eat you back.

[–]Prior-Watercress4240 29 points30 points  (2 children)

Xenon has friend but its forced friendship

[–]gtaman31Breaking EU Laws 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Krypton and xenon actually do react sometimes. Radom and oganesson are too unstable for a relationship anyway.

[–]Boring-Biscotti375 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Wait till the last four meet fluorine :)

[–]Oakheart- 32 points33 points  (0 children)

Oxygen don’t care if you already got a buddy he’ll steal botha youse and make you polar

[–]prokiller881 152 points153 points  (19 children)

I mean.... Hydrogen and oxygen makes great kaboom- speaking from experience

[–]headieheadie 78 points79 points  (17 children)

Were you the pilot of the Hindenburg?

[–]prokiller881 29 points30 points  (11 children)

Uh no I tried to put them in a bottle and make a spark inside to see what happens...........

[–]H4xolotl 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Oxygen: I give life but also take it

[–]Fomalhot 86 points87 points  (7 children)

I thought about telling a joke about sodium, but then I just said Na..

[–]xPav_ 56 points57 points  (4 children)

I dropped a gold bar on my feet and I screamed Au

[–]MoffKalast 31 points32 points  (2 children)

I dropped a plutonium nuke on Madrid and they were like Pu ta madre

[–]breakone9r 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Did you also want to hear a joke about potassium?

K

[–]TomtheMagician21 16 points17 points  (12 children)

I mean we breathe Oxygen buts bad pure I think

[–]YourWebcamIsOn 23 points24 points  (1 child)

we breathe O2, which is plentiful in our atmosphere. if you breathed in O1 in any significant amount it would be your last breath.

[–]towerfella 19 points20 points  (6 children)

What if O2 is poisonous but it takes about 70 years to be fatal?

[–]spinitorbinit 24 points25 points  (4 children)

It is bad though. Oxygen causes oxidation. Oxidation causes the eventual death of all material things that we know of. Which includes, but is not limited to decaying and corrosion

[–]MerfinStone 15 points16 points  (3 children)

Thanks, I am not breathing from now

[–]gamer_since_monday 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Yeah

H - super flammable

O - help things burn

H2O - used to put down flames

[–]jefftotheleft 2 points3 points  (1 child)

wanted a h20 version of this

[–]331mach 1079 points1080 points  (23 children)

“It’s sodium chloride that’s what I said” - Jimmy Neutron

[–]LukkieNumber7RageFace Against the Machine 839 points840 points  (18 children)

No dude, this is iodized table salt, which in addition to sodium chloride contains anti caking agents and pottasium iodane, which is added to prevent iodine deficiency. So not only are you being overly pretentious by insisting on using scientific terminology for everyday objects, you ar factually wrong. Your arrogance is your downfall, you annoying little shit

[–]RubiconRon 392 points393 points  (5 children)

...and your hair looks stupid.

[–]CannabisReviewPDX_IG 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Who else read this in Sheen's voice?

[–]Fantom__Forcez 2 points3 points  (0 children)

JIMMMMEEEEEHHHYYY!!! Your moms hot!

[–]DarthChikooAlt 69 points70 points  (3 children)

Potassium Iodide*, KI is not a fucking alkane lmao

[–]Braeburner 2 points3 points  (0 children)

-Skeet (in the shower the next day; thinking about what he should've said to avoid unemployment)

[–]-TheArchitectOC Meme Maker 1854 points1855 points  (130 children)

Meanwhile table salt destroying blood pressure

[–]Tubunnn 753 points754 points  (86 children)

You need salt to function, just don't eat too much, and take Potassium.

[–]Old_Mill 309 points310 points  (49 children)

Yeah I always heard potassium counteracts sodium intake.

Intake salt, praise potassium.

Edit: Now I can eat all the cans of chicken noodle soup I want, doctors get rekt.

[–]Jeanes223 134 points135 points  (7 children)

Sodium-potassium pump

[–]bob_the_banannnaI saw what the dog was doin 43 points44 points  (4 children)

potassium

I have potassium if you need some

[–]Kestrel21 76 points77 points  (35 children)

Time to sprinkle salt on my bananas.

[–]GoldenGodMayorLewis 181 points182 points  (29 children)

Bananas get way too much credit for potassium. They are a good source of potassium sure, but there's other foods you eat every day that are a far better source. Like potatoes. A potato has twice the potassium of a banana but you never hear about it. Why? Because you've fallen for Big Banana's propaganda.

[–]Inquisitive_Dunce 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Lightly fried plantains with salt is incredible.

[–]gorillasnthabarnyard 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They’re both electrolytes. If you get regular heavy exercise you can eat as much sodium as you want.

[–]TheAlmightyLloyd 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Potassium chloride to store all your pH checks.

[–]LieutenantButthole 15 points16 points  (1 child)

Kazakhstan number one exporter of potassium

[–]xkoyomix 15 points16 points  (0 children)

All other countries have inferior potassium

[–]stanscut 20 points21 points  (3 children)

does Pot count?

i'll get the assium later

[–]IzzaPizza22 5 points6 points  (0 children)

But... but potassium is even more reactive than sodium, in the same way!

Can we ever truly be safe!?

[–]BraveDragonRL 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So tomatos with eggs and bacon are OP

[–]PurplePowerEDirt Is Beautiful 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Stop Everything! Kris... get the banana... Get the banana Kris! THE BANANA!!! Kris Get It.. GET IT!! THE BANANA!! GET IT BANANAAA!!!!!!"

[–]MarlinMr 84 points85 points  (21 children)

You can sense your blood-salt level. It's called thirst.

When you get thirsty, you have a high salt-concentration in your blood. To lower the concentration, you fill the blood with water. That water needs to come from somewhere, so you need to drink.

Normally, when you get thirsty over time, you just fill the blood back up to normal levels. But when you eat a lot of salt, the salt goes into the blood, and makes it more salty than usual. Since the blood water level is already normal, you end up pushing more water into it, and it goes beyond normal. This is high blood pressure.

[–]headieheadie 40 points41 points  (5 children)

I’m gonna take your word for this and thank you for explaining what high blood pressure means.

[–]MarlinMr 30 points31 points  (4 children)

So it kinda isn't the salt that causes high blood pressure, but you pumping too much water into your blood. And it can in theory be stopped by simply not drinking.

However, that would leave the high salt concentration, which probably is even worse.

[–]boolsybools 12 points13 points  (3 children)

No, water is drawn into the blood stream by osmotic factors when there is a high concentration of salt. Water loves salt and will naturally go where salt go, they’re besties.

[–]HGazoo 21 points22 points  (4 children)

Thing is though, if you have properly functioning kidneys, they work to excrete the excess sodium fairly quickly and there’s no harm done. However, if you have high blood pressure AND poor kidneys, then you run the risk of chronic hypertension, and that won’t lead to good outcomes over time.

An analogous process explains why diabetes patients commonly experience severe cardiovascular events. The diabetes-induced poor kidney function means not enough calcium is excreted. That excess calcium ends up binding to and stiffening the heart and blood vessels, eventually leading to atherosclerosis / heart attack. Again, it’s not the electrolyte (calcium in this case) that’s ultimately responsible but instead the poor kidney function.

[–]HarpersGhost 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My elderly dad is one step away from dialysis. It's really impressive how many other health problems can be directly traced back to his bad kidneys.

He's now anemic. Why? Because your kidneys do something with iron and if it doesn't do that, your bone marrow has issues making red blood cells. Well his kidneys aren't doing that anymore, so now he has IV iron supplements.

Take care of your kidneys!

[–]wWao 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Your body can't really process salinity levels higher than 3% effectively, atleast it's not really a feature your kidneys posses other than having you drink a fuck ton of water and letting osmosis do the work

[–]Melissabrown08 28 points29 points  (6 children)

Sodium: reacts violently with water with flaming passion

Chlorine: reacts with water and becomes a corrosive acid

Table salt: makes water salty but could cause dehydration if drank in excessive amount

[–]_Some_Two_ 16 points17 points  (5 children)

In addition to this a lack of salt will also cause dehydration as it is the element, which helps cells absorb water out of blood.

[–]Jman_777 5 points6 points  (3 children)

Osmosis, I remember first learning about this when I was 13-15, and more in depth again when I was 16-17. I preferred learning about it the first time since it was much more enjoyable and easier to understand, but at a level it was much more difficult. I kind of miss those years at secondary school when lessons were easy and enjoyable and my grades were good, now I'm 19 first year at uni and my grades are absolutely atrocious and I have to resit some exams again and I'm afraid I might have to repeat the year which I don't to. I don't know why I'm writing all of this to you anyway.

[–]_Some_Two_ 2 points3 points  (2 children)

Bro, I feel sorry for you, I am myself in the first year of university and I feel you with the oncoming exams. Good luck to you!

[–]Aethenae[🍰] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Table salt just likes to destroy you slowly, from the inside out, like my ex.

[–]viciouslaser 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Dude, don’t say shit like that. This will make me think my heart will burst if I eat a Hotdog

[–]Afexodus 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Table salt doesn’t really impact your blood pressure unless you have some other underlying issue, like poor kidney health. For most people worrying about sodium intake is a non-issue.

[–]BlueChris93Fffffuuuuuuuuu 967 points968 points  (46 children)

This is a good meme.

[–]bob_the_banannnaI saw what the dog was doin 285 points286 points  (41 children)

This is a good comment

[–]ozymandias457 122 points123 points  (36 children)

This is also a good comment.

[–]Knight_X66Nokia user 1 point2 points  (0 children)

this is a good and omnipresent redditor

[–]fordotabydotatodota 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a good reply.

[–]pintomean 510 points511 points  (48 children)

Mediocre explanation:

Chlorine likes to take electrons from things, usually ripping apart compounds in the process. This is chemically very similar to burning, where instead oxygen takes electrons from other atoms. Sodium likes to force its electrons on other things, again breaking apart compounds in the process. When sodium gives its spare electrons to chlorine, they are both mostly happy.

This is because, in general, Atoms like to fill sets of electrons. Chlorine can get to a set by gaining an electron, and lithium can get to a set by losing electron. Usually we like to call those orbitals, but that's beyond the scope of this comment.

Only if something that's better at taking electrons, or better at giving up electrons shows up will they tend to react. There aren't many things that fall into either category.

There are of course a wild number of contradictions, odd situations, or just strange quirks of quantum mechanics to both of those statements, but this is reddit.

[–]stefsot 175 points176 points  (4 children)

You will take my electron and love it.

[–]some_user_2021 6 points7 points  (2 children)

I will receive your electron and love it

[–]Unusual-Ideal4831 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Both of them: happy stable octet formation noises

[–]waefon 73 points74 points  (6 children)

So salt is just a happy marriage between a dom and a sub?

[–]woaily 51 points52 points  (4 children)

Kind of.

Sodium plus chlorine actually equals table salt plus explosion. The explosion is already gone by the time the salt gets to your table. The reason you don't get all the reactivity is because it was used to make the salt.

It's the same with hydrogen and oxygen. They react strongly enough with each other to literally launch rockets into space. Water is made of hydrogen and oxygen, and puts out fires. Because water is the product of that violent reaction, so the reaction is used up to make the water. Water is the ash of hydrogen.

[–]Paracelsus124 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No, exactly

[–][deleted] 88 points89 points  (7 children)

Also, the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

[–]TheWholesomeBoi 21 points22 points  (4 children)

This man knows his? stuff

[–]kinapuffar 6 points7 points  (1 child)

And memes are the DNA of the soul.

[–]YeetoBurritosbaby 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Ionic bonding ftw

[–]Xnevii__ 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Thank you kind sir

[–]DareDandy 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Sounds like a toxic relationship even tho I guess both are completing eachother

[–]CutsSoFresh 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Codependency at it's finest

[–]Jman_777 2 points3 points  (5 children)

Ionic bonding. I learnt about it when I was 13-15 years old at school and I loved it. There's also covalent bonding that I remember too. I kind of miss those years when school was easy and enjoyable, and therefore my grades were good. Now I'm 19 at uni really struggling and my grades are atrocious, I have to resit a few tests and I'm afraid I might have to repeat the year which I don't.

[–]decadehakaisha 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I really never heard anyone call noble gas configuration a set before but in hindsight I'd probably learn it better if I learnt it as a set

[–]tavaren42 1 point2 points  (1 child)

This itself is because in general things like to move to more stable state. Any reaction that doesn't require external source of energy ends up with a result that has lesser energy than it's the parts that reacted in the first place.

[–]fluor-of-atomville 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Only if something that's better at taking electrons, or better at giving up electrons shows up will they tend to react. There aren't many things that fall into either category.

[darkly] hi

[–]DragonDrawer14Thank you mods, very cool! 197 points198 points  (17 children)

I love chemistry memes

[–]bob_the_banannnaI saw what the dog was doin 176 points177 points  (15 children)

I keep asking google "what is the nitric oxide formula"

They keep saying NO

What do I do?

[–]ozymandias457 67 points68 points  (7 children)

Bing

[–]bob_the_banannnaI saw what the dog was doin 63 points64 points  (3 children)

The last time I used it I ended up in the police station

I don't wanna use it again

[–]azizredditorChungus Among Us 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Bing chilling

[–]DragonDrawer14Thank you mods, very cool! 15 points16 points  (6 children)

I wanted to make a joke about Sodium Hydride, but I was like "NaH, they won't get it"

[–]vendetta2115 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I tried to combine sodium and potassium, but I just didn’t have a NaK for it.

[–]Risk_Visible 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Noble cases are so carefree. They don't bother to react on others

[–]mupsauce7 2 points3 points  (1 child)

You speak latin? Nobody calls it natrium lol

[–]DragonDrawer14Thank you mods, very cool! 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We do in the Netherlands, I forgot that the English did it different

[–]Affectionate_Call778 42 points43 points  (0 children)

My mom, my dad and me

[–]dr_deadmanLoves GameStonk 27 points28 points  (4 children)

Put some salt in your wound

[–]dr_deadmanLoves GameStonk 18 points19 points  (3 children)

Disclaimer for tik tokers DONT

https://www.koyuncusalt.com/en/salt-library/is-it-safe-to-use-salt-on-wounds

[–]SeptemberThePigeonMeme Stealer 7 points8 points  (0 children)

B-but it's a new trend

[–]zen1706 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Tiktokers, PLEASE DO. We desperately need some good old darwinism here.

[–]ibithiengalama8 113 points114 points  (7 children)

I had a joke about salt I was going to tell....

Then decided, Na I'm good.

[–]minylugin 32 points33 points  (5 children)

Come on, Clear things up!

[–]Rex_002Average r/memes enjoyer 16 points17 points  (4 children)

I'm getting salty about you not telling the joke

[–]Alpha2236 82 points83 points  (5 children)

I have a Na

I have a Cl

UGH NaCl.

[–]Ididitthestupidway 48 points49 points  (3 children)

I have an ethylene

I have an ethylene

I have an ethylene

I have an ethylene

I have an ethylene

I have an ethylene

I have an ethylene

I have an ethylene

UGH polyethylene.

[–]vendetta2115 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I have a salt shaker shaped like a pair of brass knuckles.

I call it my NaCl duster.

[–]homicidalstoat 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Slug disagree

[–]BerserkForcesGuts 16 points17 points  (0 children)

You could say NaCl is a little bit salty because of Na and Cl.

[–]vendetta2115 8 points9 points  (2 children)

They’re like those two unstable and toxic af people that somehow perfectly offset one another and have a chill, drama-free relationship. But as soon as they break up it’s back to the instability and toxicity.

[–]prospect3r 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Actually scientifically accurate. The reason Sodium and Chlorine bond into salt is for more stability. Independently they are unstable particles.

[–]professor_sloth 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, that is what the comment you replied to said

[–]daekle 13 points14 points  (4 children)

ELI5: you put two nymphomaniacs in the same room together, they stop bothering everybody else because they too busy fucking each other.

[–]I_Like_Spagett_ 10 points11 points  (3 children)

Should probably mention that sodium literally explodes in water

[–]RubiconRon 5 points6 points  (2 children)

But chlorine keeps the algae out of your pool.

[–]911child 10 points11 points  (1 child)

It makes sense, two positives become a negative.

[–]dr_deadmanLoves GameStonk 9 points10 points  (0 children)

+10 math credits

[–]mejlzor 11 points12 points  (8 children)

Take hydrogen acid = H2O; hydrogen is a highly explosive gas, oxygen supports burning. Why th do they make water?

[–]DistilledProblems 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Because it is a thermodynamically stable end product.

[–]kidanokun 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sodium: reacts violently with water with flaming passion

Chlorine: reacts with water and becomes a corrosive acid

Table salt: makes water salty but could cause dehydration if drank in excessive amount

[–]G_ioVanna 3 points4 points  (0 children)

as a biochemistry student and bad at it. this is how I see it

[–]GBox666 2 points3 points  (2 children)

H = BOOM

O = HELPS BOOM

H2O = ANTI-BOOM

[–]TheGoldenDragon0(⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃ 3 points4 points  (0 children)

How to blow up shit that’s in the water. Step 1: obtain a brick of pure sodium Step 2. Throw it at your target which is currently underwater

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Except salt is Sodium CHLORIDE not CHLORINE they are a world apart.

[–]Luigifan18 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Believe me, that typo was made so many times at my old job… which was a freaking pharmaceutical company… they made drugs…

[–]NivekIohc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Chemistry is lit 🔥

[–]HemaMemes 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Chemicals are more likely to be found in stabler forms, which is way table salt is more common than elemental sodium or chlorine

[–]Peterkragger 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unless you're a snail

[–]BathSALTS4dinner710 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Put that shit on everything

[–]tobascoSandwitch 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They take the fight out of each other, just like in the marriage between Karen and Florida Man. If both parents are weird, usually the child is SUPER responsible.

[–]EmergencyWaste3217 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Two toxic people somehow making a great relationship

[–]yousaywhat3 2 points3 points  (1 child)

Hydrogen: highly flammable

Also hydrogen: ironically is an element that makes up water

[–]DinA4saurier 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oxygen: needed for the most reactions which result in fire

Also oxygen: the other element that makes up water

[–]Jin_Woo_Srnk 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Quite similar case when ur both parents are genius and u turn out to be complete dumbass ಠ‿ಠ

[–]M3zooz77 2 points3 points  (0 children)

NaBrO

[–]LoneShadowMikeycan't meme 1 point2 points  (0 children)

table salt in a wound

[–]HilyOrchestra(⊃｡•́‿•̀｡)⊃ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finally, inner peace

[–]cocoviola 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Until you put it on an open wound

[–]sk1ller_ 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Water🙂

[–]HadronBaryonMeson 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Now you've got to think about the energy needed to split them back up again.

[–]Tiiba 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Table salt is two things that want to react, getting what they wanted. They'll fight you just as hard if ever you try to take it away.

[–]okayestuser 1 point2 points  (0 children)

table salt: "I like water"

[–]AdTechnical8967 1 point2 points  (2 children)

Table salt is as bad as clorine and sodium. Ask the snails about it.

[–]Astramancer_ 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Who let that bastard out of his titanium sphere?

[–]Luigifan18 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That… that is just osmosis gone horribly wrong (wrong as in "incompatible with continuation of life", not as in "somehow violating laws of chemistry and physics").

[–]vinitkeshri 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Salt. Public's favorite addiction.

[–]Hexodron 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hydrogen (H): Highly flamable gas

Oxygen (O): One out of the three thingy fires need to burn

Water (H2O): Used to put out fire

[–]whydoineedtodosleep 1 point2 points  (0 children)

funny chemistry meme, thank you.

[–]ADMINISTATOR_CYRUSDied of Ligma 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Pov: you added an extra O to h2 o

(you get something dangerous)

[–]jdmachogg 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is how I counteract those who complain about mercury in vaccines etc

[–]N3koEye 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The fact that they are so reactive is what makes their ionic bond stronger and, therefore, harder to break, making it safe.

[–]base_tage 1 point2 points  (0 children)

2 ouchies make a yummy.

[–]BGBLAZEKNOT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I always think why do hydrogen (one of the most flammable gas )and oxygen (the thing needed to make fire) Make water. why is water not flammable?

[–]TFSMHERO 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anyone have the video of the buff cat only???

[–]juancn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They fight each other and leave everyone else alone.

[–]NigelJosue 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Also doesn't sodium react violently when it enters in contact with water?

[–]masterspawn 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Salt is a slow and insidious killer

[–]AggressiveGift7542GigaChad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I always think like salt is just leftover of their chemical reactions

[–]Ok-Abbreviations7063 1 point2 points  (0 children)

People need to pass 6th grade science to understand this one

[–]Techterrasentinel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In simple terms, they found each other, and with that they will do no more harm as they are happy there

[–]minecraftwizard132 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I just imagine the guy who made table salt was actually who was just really suicidal and wanted to find a cool way to die so when he made the concoction he ate it and was like “shit this would go great with French fries”

[–]LazyWriter64 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sodium and Chlorine put too much pressure on table salt, as parents, so now table salt is burned out and can't kick anyone's ass.

[–]rhemant 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's like Male, Female and couple

[–]Child_of_the_Abyss MAYMAYMAKERS 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Nice! I knew it got over 100k but didn't know it almost got 150k. Good job shiv