Brain Teasers
Dying of Thirst?
A man is walking through the Sahara desert, and is dying of thirst. His caravan was attacked by a group of brigands. He ran off, and the brigands let him live. He is desperately trying to find water, when he stumbles upon a random town. He goes up to a random man, and pleads for water. The Arab says 10 dollars. The man gladly paid him. The Arab handed him a jug that said H2O2. The man shouts, WATER! and drinks half of the bottle. He says his thanks, and walks off. After about 10 steps he falls to his knees, vomits, and dies. Why did he die?
Answer
The Arab handed him a jug of H2O2, which is two hydrogen atoms bonded to two oxygen atoms. H2O2 is very similar to H2O (water). However, the extra oxygen atom creates a different substance called hydrogen peroxide. This is the substance we use to doctor our wounds. If drunk, it would make you lose nearly all body fluids. Since the man was dehydrated, he had almost no fluids to lose, making him die 10 times quicker than if he hadn't drunk the substance.Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
Bware what an honor to be first to comment on your wonderful teaser. I confess I didn't have the right answer, because I read what I thought it should have said not what it did say! I would not make a good scientist. I still learned something valuable.
This teaser was kind of easy, but I think it was because of the wording. It could have been little more tricky if it were worded differently. It was a good teaser, though!
it was really easy, but fun. i got it the first time
I think this teaser is extremely racey and I don't know how it got approved. With the war in Iraq I don't feel that this teaser is appropriate at all. It gives a message that arabs are blatantly killing others and that's not an okay message to give.
Oh, brother. PC run amuck.
This was a good one I got it right off, it is also known as hydrogen peroxide, GREAT WORK!! Loved it
By the way safire2191 I don't think Bware0313 meant anything by it. Since war is all over the place it could have been anywhere, but you have a right to your own opinion.
I knew the answer. YAY!
I corrected it, and it might be easier to understand.
Ty all for the comments, i didnt mean for it 2 be racist. It could of been anywhere... And thanks for fixing that hydrogen peroxide thing, i was half asleep when i wrote it...
No problem Bware0313, I love science and this one was great 2 thumbs up and PLEASE keep these coming
I didn't know what this formula was, but I knew that H2O2 is not the formula for water!So can I say that I got it? I suppose so! Thanx for the teaser.
Extremely easy.
Here's some info to match: Hydrogen Peroxide can bleach human hair, hence the phrase peroxide blonde. It can make a brunette into a blonde into a second, as it can be found in cosmetics. Here's another interesting fact: Hydrogen peroxide was used by the nazis as rocket fuel, not as a cosmetic!
Here's some info to match: Hydrogen Peroxide can bleach human hair, hence the phrase peroxide blonde. It can make a brunette into a blonde into a second, as it can be found in cosmetics. Here's another interesting fact: Hydrogen peroxide was used by the nazis as rocket fuel, not as a cosmetic!
very good one! safire, i dont think this teaser was supposed to portray arabs in a bad light. the arab could just as well have been dutch or american or whatever. but that wouldnt have fit, so he used a local nationality. anyway, i thought it was clever. not to difficult, so it made me feel smart....lol
I'm still wondering a few things:
(1) Why a desert dweller is carrying around a container of peroxide, labelled by chemical formula?
(2) Why is he willing to sell it to a stranger in need of water? This doesn't match what I've read about the hospitality of any of the cultures that might match the situation.
(3) Why did the Arab quote a price in dollars? Is this all taking place in the US or Australia?
(4) Since when do "racy" and "racist" mean the same thing?
Finally, keep in mind that this is a single instance of a long-established story type. I see a neither a pattern, nor abuse, that warrants labelling the submitter "racist".
(1) Why a desert dweller is carrying around a container of peroxide, labelled by chemical formula?
(2) Why is he willing to sell it to a stranger in need of water? This doesn't match what I've read about the hospitality of any of the cultures that might match the situation.
(3) Why did the Arab quote a price in dollars? Is this all taking place in the US or Australia?
(4) Since when do "racy" and "racist" mean the same thing?
Finally, keep in mind that this is a single instance of a long-established story type. I see a neither a pattern, nor abuse, that warrants labelling the submitter "racist".
Didn't know that!
easyyyy I agree that this teaser is racist.. but I agree that the teaser maker didn't mean it..
THAT ISN'T A RACIST TEASER! For all we know the man himself could have made a mistake due to the fact that the lable on the bottle was a chemical formula and thought he was giving the man water!!! I personally take offense at the fact that ya'll jump to say this is racist. If you wanna see racist join the military like my boyfriend did...then talk to me as to why they can have stupid American/German/Chinese jokes and we can't even have a riddle based in that area. Grow up people. You aren't always goin to make everyone happy!
Sorry bout blowing up like that. It was a really good teaser!
weird...............
Good teaser! Not racist
This teaser is really designed for 4th grade scientists. Far too easy.
I just finished a chem class last semester.....this was soo great
ooo... I thought that was really easy... that's only because I learned about it while studying for the Science Bowl!! hehe. Wouldn't it taste different though? Or is hydrogen peroxide tasteless too? *runs to go look it up*
I got it right but only because I studied hard for my A level chemistry!!! Good Job
Hydrogen Peroxide?!?
I knew that!
easy, pretty good, but why would a guy in a desert have a jug of H2O2 to randomly hand a man who is dying from thirst?
I am a bit surprised about how some pathetic people seem to think that this puzzle is racist.
(I am not a racist and admit every country and religion has evil followers)
But to be fair, the teaser owner did not mean any racism. And you must admit some Arabs do kill. They're not perfect!
(I am not a racist and admit every country and religion has evil followers)
But to be fair, the teaser owner did not mean any racism. And you must admit some Arabs do kill. They're not perfect!
Oh, gosh. This is so simple. H2O is obviously water. H2O2?!?! Anyone can see that.
There was a rhyme about this:
There was a thirsty freshman,
He ain't thirsty no more.
For what he thought was H2O
Was H2SO4
There was a thirsty freshman,
He ain't thirsty no more.
For what he thought was H2O
Was H2SO4
ARGHS!
I know all about h2o and h2o2 but was just too fast..
It does pay off if you know how to read!!
I know all about h2o and h2o2 but was just too fast..
It does pay off if you know how to read!!
Aww that's too sad...
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