It seems to me intuitively that if you were suffering from an acid burn the last thing you would want to do is pour more acid on it. However - there's a scene in the movie Fight Club where Ed Norton's character is suffering from an acid burn while being held down by Brad Pitt's character. Finally, Pitt reveals Norton of his suffering by pouring vinegar on the burn - and - almost instantly - the pain is relieved.
Similarly, in the HBO Series "Carnivale", there's a scene where a man purposely disfigures his face by submerging it in hydrochloric acid. After he's done (and screaming in pain of course) - you see him pour a bottle of vinegar on his face to stop the pain.
I can't believe that this tidbit would be in 2 different productions and not have some vaildity to it.
Can someone please explain if this is fact or fiction - and - if it's true that vinegar does relieve the pain from acid burns - why??
2007-02-01 02:24:33 · 7 answers · asked by captain2man 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
What's this? Movies out of Hollywood making glaring scientific errors? I'm Shocked, I tell you! Shocked! And here I thought it was only a matter of time, since mankind has begun using atomic power, until a large reptile comes out of the ocean and stomps Tokyo!
2007-02-01 05:03:58 · answer #1 · answered by Glenguin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Fight Club, Brad Pitt's character did not pour acid on Edward Norton. He instead put lye on his skin. Lye is a strong base, and bases can burn you just as bad as acids can. In order to neutralize the lye, he poured an acid (vinegar) on the lye.
Typically, pouring a weak acid over an area that has been burned by a stronger acid will not do anything to relieve pain.
2007-02-01 02:30:19 · answer #2 · answered by woodysbeard 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
no way, that is a NaOH burn ! soda is alkaline.
So you put an acid on it to wash it away. (with quite an exothermic reaction, that is even more painful)
and HCl doesn't disfigure nothing, even the 37% HCl doesn't burn on the intact skin. But if you have a cut or a mucose like nose/mouth/eye it's incredibly painful.
2007-02-01 02:33:12 · answer #3 · answered by scientific_boy3434 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits : http://AppleCiderVinegar.siopu.com/?kqD
2016-06-21 15:14:33 · answer #4 · answered by Crystal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not just corrosive...although that's part of it...but strong acids like sulfuric acid take water from the skin and cause burns that way. Corrosion is later.
2016-03-15 03:23:59 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not sure why that would help,
are you planning on trying it and reporting back to us?
2007-02-01 02:30:02 · answer #6 · answered by Dr W 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
hmm i just thought of the most obvious thing .. acid v alkaline...!!? dunno, im no good at these science questions...!
2007-02-01 04:30:40 · answer #7 · answered by Donna 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋