The Acid Bathtub in Breaking Bad (reviewed by The Professor)

The Professor reviews episodes 2 and 3 of Breaking Bad, featuring the notorious HF acid bath... see our previous episode 1 review at: • The Prof watches Break...
More links and info in full description ↓↓↓
HF videos - Hydrofluoric Acid:
• Flesh-Eating Hydrofluo...
• Chicken in Acid Conclu...
• Light Bulb in Hydroflu...
Breaking Bad: amzn.to/3sWjnhu
Videos on all 118 elements: bit.ly/118elements
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More chemistry at www.periodicvideos.com/
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And on Twitter at / periodicvideos
From the School of Chemistry at The University of Nottingham: bit.ly/NottChem
This episode was also generously supported by The Gatsby Charitable Foundation
Periodic Videos films are by video journalist Brady Haran: www.bradyharan.com/
Brady's Blog: www.bradyharanblog.com
Join Brady's mailing list for updates and extra stuff --- eepurl.com/YdjL9

[@periodicvideos]

Now that the The Prof has the box set - feel free to request any specific chemistry-laden episodes you'd like him to watch!!!

[@churchofthelambofsat]

Season 1 episode 6.

[@mobiousenigma]

professor p! as always thanks for the videos. i suspect there will be many chemical inaccuracies as you watch mainly to keep series producers out of court. it is as you say fantasy make believe which bears a striking resemblance to our realities. tv like the internet can be used as a source of knowledge or information but the sources still require vetting.

[@Slothery]

In the episode titled 'Box cutter' right before the guy gets his throat cut, Walt asks a bunch of intentionally complex chemistry questions. There is also a lot of chemistry equipment throughout the episode.

[@alexandercz.4218]

Why didn't Walter White make the reagent chemicals (Methylamin) for himself? I mean he had an engineering lab and it should be less conspicuous to make these chemicals himself rather than to buy or steal them? I bet you can produce the reagent chemicals on your own and start "cooking" ...

[@mytech6779]

It is important for the professor to know that the producers purposefully made some of the chemistry details wrong to be somewhat socially responsible.

[@Gunbudder]

Vince Gilligan has stated that the chemistry was slightly altered in every scene showing dangerous or illegal chemistry. Essentially, they made the chemistry wrong on purpose so that if any viewer tried to follow the show, they would get no reaction, or something harmless. this is especially true for the meth recipe where they purposefully left out a few key steps and also show Walt doing a few things wrong on purpose.

[@ficolas2]

Ah yes, using HF to dissolve a body, certainly something harmless.

[@gastonbell108]

Mythbusters successfully recreated the effect on the show (partially anyway) with piranha solution, which is 18M H2SO4 and 20% H2O2. Nothing rare about the ingredients, just the effect they produce in tandem. The peroxide sends the oxidation into a frenzy, it's like liquid fire when it touches anything organic, even leaves black tarry residue behind like a fire. But even piranha won't dissolve a ceramic-lined bathtub. There's a reason so many things in a laboratory are made of porcelain.

[@davidmaisel8062]

@@gastonbell108 H2SO4 is nasty stuff and extremely unstable. I thought it was very irresponsible of Mythbusters to even show that episode.

[@rambo8wradio]

I've heard that is the same reason they altered some of MacGyver recipes in original series, so kids couldn't replicate him.

[@futurestoryteller]

That's a nice excuse, but actually that is literally _only_ about meth as they were instructed to make those alterations to retain the help of the DEA. As the Professor points out you *can* dissolve bodies in HF, and it will *not* eat through plastic, so they're not going to take creative liberties just so that would be serial killers and drug cartels can properly dispose of bodies, but _maybe_ it won't work exactly the way they expect, and they'll get caught through shenanigans, that's just silly

[@BobMotster]

The professor doesn't mind the laws of physics being broken but he gets livid when someone violates the laws of chemistry. Unfair

[@aminulhussain2277]

No, he minds presenting inaccuracies as real/correct.

[@rillloudmother]

​@@aminulhussain2277 this

[@MadScientist267]

I have the same problem but we're never going to see "accurate" chemistry, or any viable attack for that matter, in any Hollywood presentation. They can't legally tell you how to dispose of a body, for example. So they have to use chemical names that people associate with fear, and exploit the ignorance of the masses to get the suspension of disbelief working. For those of us that know the difference, we end up frustrated and disappointed. Just a necessary evil, unfortunately.

[@ratunkuuu]

That's sprcialisation!

[@ohsweetmystery]

He stated he doesn't mind if it is labelled as fantasy. Selling something as realistic and then falling short is very different than a story that is just about pretending.

[@uncleho1945]

he's the first person ive heard mention the plastic pools. hilarious that walter and jesse didnt think to use the pool instead.

[@skbirdandsiggi10]

couldn't they have bought them?

[@gerbil.]

Walt obviusly bought those afterwards because the look brand new

[@j.dietrich]

Inflatable pools are invariably made from PVC, which is susceptible to HF.

[@knottheory79220]

@@j.dietrich I was looking for someone to point that out. But the solid kiddie pools (non inflatable kind) are probably built out of the right kind of plastic, unless they're vinyl pools.

[@positronundervolt4799]

It's not even that it's the wrong type of plastic... Gotta remember the context of those 2 episodes; they're both freaking out. Neither Jesse or Walter were thinking clearly.

[@EebstertheGreat]

In some ways, the show fared better than I expected against the professor's criticism. But he's right that the school had a suspiciously enormous supply of HF and that the small amount Walter took would never be close to enough to eat through a body, tub, and floor.

[@themagnus2919]

What high school would trust students or even teachers to handle HF safely...?

[@MrSnoots]

Also, would a company like, for instance, Sigma-Aldrich not be suspicious about GALLONS of HF going to a high school? Would they need to report that?

[@Thermalions]

I've also never seen a high school with such a large and comprehensive supply of chemistry hardware and consumables. They're generally always struggling to just get a fair share of the funding.

[@BuIIetBiII]

No school I've ever worked in has had HF. It's far too dangerous.

[@peterjf7723]

@@BuIIetBiII When I was at school in the 1970s we made HF and used it to etch glass.

[@pauljackson2409]

After much cajoling, the Prof. is becoming a Breaking Bad aficionado. Completely agree that concentrated HF is not something you'd find in a High School lab. There are some other howlers in the show, such as being able to light thermite with a blow torch, but in defense of Vince Gilligan and his excellent team of writers, they probably didn't want the show to become a 'how to use chemistry for criminal activities'.

[@quackerzdb]

I thought there was a sparkler fuse in the thermite. That would do the trick.

[@pauljackson2409]

@@quackerzdb Yes that would work, but if you watch the scene where they use thermite to melt the lock of a warehouse; they just blast some thermite in a plastic bag with a blowtorch and up it goes.

[@auracle6184]

That's correct, they deliberately fluffed a lot of the chemistry because they'd be on the hook if anyone ever tried to mimic the show using its own instructions

[@gg2324]

You need magnesium matches right?

[@filipealarza9079]

That's not hard to do. Just use a Mg strip as a fuse.

[@MrSnoots]

Absolutely love imagining The Prof having a giggle at Jesse in the hardware store. As a side note, I'd love to see some videos of chemistry that would have baffled scientists centuries ago. Chemistry that is clearly understood today, but would have had alchemists convinced that transmutation was viable, for example.

[@TyphonBaalHammon]

There's a parlor trick on Nurdrage's channel where he turns a canadian penny into "gold"

[@adamrak7560]

For super exotic research stuff, transmutation _is_ viable, when you only need a few atoms of it. Compared to gold, something like antiprotonic helium is waaay more interesting anyway!

[@adrianqx]

As a programmer I feel the same when I see hackers in movies bashing their keyboards for 5 seconds and say Im in !!

[@darrendm8037]

"It's a UNIX system! I know this!"

[@SoulDuckling126]

"mainframe"

[@leatherman06]

Just needs 1Gb of RAM 👍

[@Quake120]

​@@darrendm8037 # service jpark restart Error: Line 57 in /etc/jpark.conf: Invalid character } # vi /etc/jpark.conf # service jpark restart Error: Line 68 in /etc/jpark.conf: Invalid character } /throws keyboard

[@staomruel]

When they start typing faster, because things are getting hairy.

[@WAMTAT]

I'd love to see the professor review more chemistry in pop culture.

[@shinokami0076]

the 51 state ...im sure he knows about it ;)

[@BigyetiTechnologies]

Definitely. Bad chemistry in films.

[@AB-80X]

I think we should leave the professor with his sanity and spare him the pain.

[@SavageGreywolf]

the problem is how often in pop culture science is just portrayed as basically magic.

[@Kondekka]

Great insight from professor. However, I think the showmakers once said in an interview that they are not really into 100% scientifically correct scenes for public safety reasons (and practical). However I would like to say that this shows popularity has definetly increased peoples interest in science and chemistry. It certainly inspired me to a few hour long wikipedia binge and science videos on KZbin back in the day.

[@srwapo]

Yeah, I was going to say the same thing. The specifically were wrong so no one would be able to copy what happens in the show.

[@avlinrbdig5715]

@@srwapo such a bad excuse. people who wanna learn are gonna learn. showmakers should stop being lazy .

[@TechDeath28]

Also, the whole show was loosely based on "the real Walter white" who was just a southern dude who produced white stuff in a shack/garage in Alabama. I read that he wasn't that big, it's just fictional stuff made up for entertainment, typical Hollywood antics

[@1224chrisng]

yeah, and famously McGyver had to omit some details bc otherwise it'd be too realistic

[@bosstowndynamics5488]

@@srwapo They weren't trying to be wrong though - the showrunners aim was to show accurate chemistry with deliberate omissions to prevent people from reproducing it. Any evident errors were mistakes on their part or creative license, not intentional misdirection.

[@minikawildflower]

I think an explanation about the paddling pools is that Walter never asks Jesse for any information, he just comes up with a plan and orders Jesse what to do. So he immediately started yelling at Jesse to go buy a bin, without ever asking him "hey, do you have anything around here we could use." And he never tells Jesse WHY they're buying a certain kind of plastic, he just yells terms at Jesse. If he had said "HF will eat through everything except plastic," Jesse might have said "oh, I have a kiddie pool can we use that?"

[@Paul-kd3ui]

Don't know is it Polyvinyl or polyurethane? Polyvinyl chlorides? Maybe PET?---THE idea people can't understand this is maddening oh maybe polyurethane? Or polyester?

[@DJTechno94]

I read that last line in Jessie's voice

[@AwesometownUSA]

two, in fact.

[@greennin]

the fact that he pointed out that it was unlikely that jesse would have two identical paddling pools and why didn’t they just dissolve in those was perfect 🤣

[@BoraHorzaGobuchul]

Maybe he got them for a double date...

[@Streel83]

The professor is such a treasure. I would watch him dissect every episode.

[@thomasboys7216]

*dissolve

[@faridmaharramov1996]

This is my most favorite KZbin channel and will always be! A lot of thanks, Mr. professor personally to you and to the all staff involved in this brilliant work!

[@cheaterman49]

6:24 The Professor says "tuff gangsta". This video is pure gold :-D

[@theFLCLguy]

I love how the professor is like a kid who's been rapidly aged.

[@zyeborm]

I can see him as a Patric Stewart type lol.

[@DeNihility]

Chemical fumes do that.

[@fatherhoodinflight8816]

Huh... Tf.. your weird.

[@theFLCLguy]

@@fatherhoodinflight8816 everything is weird, if you don't see that then you're blind.

[@RelativelyBonded]

Best comment award goes to you my friend

[@TheGreatAtario]

My high school had HF - in the art department. It was used to make etched glass projects.

[@WilliamFord972]

Was it concentrated?

[@TheGreatAtario]

@@WilliamFord972 When I used it, it had been mixed with clay slip so that you could glop it on something and it would stick even if not perfectly level. I don't recall if it was all kept that way or if the teacher mixed it on demand or what. Or even if clay slip would survive for very long on a shelf in such a state without breaking down in some way!

[@johnladuke6475]

@@WilliamFord972 I don't know this person and didn't go to their school, but I doubt it was highly concentrated. Glass etching solutions are usually available at your local hardware store, sometimes only to adults one request because they're popular for graffiti.

[@jansenart0]

This is the best thing I’ve seen all year. I doubt he’ll review every episode but I’m here for all the ones he does!

[@cordial001]

To be fair, they use the chemistry as a springboard for the fantasy story, not give you a step-by-step guide to commit all the crimes :)

[@HeavyMetalGamingHD]

Breaking bad is fictional, but not fantasy. the word fantasy describes a genre on its own

[@johndododoe1411]

Indeed, there's an old Hollywood rule from the Hayes code that movies must not show usable crime methods that criminally inclined viewers could duplicate. Hence why movie criminals keep taking insufficient precautions to avoid fingerprints, pick locks incorrectly, are sloppy about gun handling etc. etc.

[@JackTheRocky]

@@johndododoe1411 Call cops after a while to give them a few hints if they are having trouble, ect.

[@johndododoe1411]

@@JackTheRocky I was not talking about bad Hollywood tropes. I was talking about bedrock rules about what can and cannot be shown to the general public.

[@syntactyx]

I'd like to get the professor's opinion on whether or not Walt and Jesse produced an optically pure product once they had switched methods to reductive amination. There is never any mention of a chiral resolution in the show after they moved away from the Nagai reduction, so I think it would be ironic if all this time Walt's "Blue sky" was actually racemic and not that potent.

[@EebstertheGreat]

It's possible their "pure" product was inferior to what a lot of people can get on the street today.

[@conrad9race1]

yes, this is exactly what woould hapen unless they they somehow came up on method that converts purified version into more potent, which was metioned i tkink, but that reaction doesn exist or isnt known

[@nugget130884]

Don't know what chiral resolution is but I know Walt says something about chiral - think it's in episode boxcutter at the beginning when Victor tries to do the cook and Walt's shouting hard chemistry questions at him.

[@conrad9race1]

@@marc-andreservant201 damn never heard of that sounds intresting

[@MattLuceen]

@@marc-andreservant201 this guy does chemistry.

[@LordOfReb3ls]

I remember an interview with the director where he spoke about learning the chemistry for everything Walter did, then deciding to twist everything so they weren’t teaching criminals to be better criminals. I can see how the misinformation can be frustrating, but, personally, I prefer it to my crazy neighbors suddenly learning how to perform a gas attack then make a body disappear from an AMC show

[@Gwx480]

I hope Sir Martyn continues watching the series, we haven't even gotten into the meth-related chemistry yet! Great video as always.

[@Nefville]

I had a very similar thing happen to me recently, well not really all that similar but I got a call from my dad, he used a concentrated sulfuric acid drain opened on a totally clogged drain without taking any steps to protect the metal of the drain itself. It filled up, ate through the drain and then leaked into the cabinet below and onto the floor. What a mess. Ruined the drains, the cabinet, the floor, turned everything black. Always follow the instructions, you know?

[@ronblack7870]

probably a product called Clobber . it's sulfuric acid. usually works great . it will eat rust so if a cast pipe is badly rusted it can go through. never had it happen to me though. when you open or pour it you get the white fumes forming so it's the real deal.

[@gastonbell108]

I was told by my plumber that in the old days, people would regularly end up in the hospital with eye and face burns after pouring H2SO4 down the drain while standing over the hole looking directly down (despite the label saying specifically not to do that). It was so common that the modern stuff is all formulated so it doesn't heat up as quickly or as much - less effective on a tough clog, but less legal liability.

[@zyeborm]

​@@gastonbell108 I think the modern stuff is mostly basic rather than acidic. Strong bases for whatever reason seem more benign than strong acids.

[@athmaid]

@@zyeborm maybe more benign in terms of chucking it down the drain, but as far as contact with tissues goes, strong bases cause horrific burns

[@ericeaton2386]

@@zyeborm strong bases will tear through organic material but aren’t nearly as harsh on stuff like metal, and most clogs are organic stuff like hair. But you definitely wouldn’t want to get it on yourself in any way.

[@MrWeezy312]

I never been here to see a video so soon!!! One of my favorite channels becoming a chemistry review series is awesome

[@SaikouHD]

Haven't watched a Periodic Videos video in a loooong time. The Professor was the biggest drive behind my interest in chemistry and science in general. Nice to see hes doing well!

[@TroubledTrooper]

The show had a scientist on call for accuracy if I recall correctly. Same with Better Call Saul had a legal expert. However for both I think the showrunners are more than willing to sacrifice accuracy for the story when needed which I personally agree with.

[@lordmortimer8055]

Better Call Saul’s legal expert was actually writer Gordon Smith’s mother! And Breaking Bad had several DEA chemists to help with accuracy.

[@clamdove3292]

i have a feeling the scientific inaccuracies had less to do with the story and more to do with, as other commenters have stated, not wanting the show to become "how to do crimes with chemistry"

[@TroubledTrooper]

@@clamdove3292 This too, but I distinctly remember seeing or hearing Vince saying this somewhere. Don't remember where at the top of my head, but to him the story comes first.

[@jimcat68]

I love how the "final thought" is not about the TV show or even the details of the chemistry, but about the importance of following instructions.

[@churchofthelambofsat]

It's so nice seeing this man slowly join the fanbase.

[@sandreid87]

Fanbase? Sounded like he hated the show haha

[@YoungGandalf2325]

He says the chemistry in the show irritates him, but it sounds like he's hooked. I'm sure he'll binge watch all the seasons.

[@sandreid87]

I don't know, man! He was just complaining nonstop about the show, specifically the chemistry and the gruesome elements. He had very little positive to say, but let's see :D

[@martinepstein9826]

@@sandreid87 He spends a lot more time saying what the show got right than what it got wrong.

[@MrCrazyeyes07]

He explicitly said he found the show to be quite gruesome and doesn’t really like gruesome things. How do you think he’ll feel when they “overcome” that child? If he even gets that far, it’s a great show but if he doesn’t like bleak things it may not be for him.

[@rkirke1]

Thanks to Sir Martin for exposing himself to all the gore for the sake of chemistry! A really good breakdown - I've seen a lot of errors pointed out over the years, but never the fact that they could have used the paddling pools all along and avoided the bathtub disaster! Well spotted!

[@marc-andreservant201]

I've heard that strong bases like potassium hydroxide can be used as a strong solution in boiling water, and work even better than acid (hence their use as an eco-friendly alternative to cremation).

[@M30W3R]

Professor, you are a gift to humanity, thanks for bringing us smiles with all your videos while still keeping them interesting and informative!

[@floatyperson1979]

I really enjoy hearing what parts of the show they get right and what is off. Great video i would love to see more like it!

[@carlstanland5333]

I seem to remember the producer saying he purposely changed some of the chemistry to keep people from doing things at home.

[@jocax188723]

Amusingly, when the Mythbusters did this, they were equally unimpressed about the amount of flesh-dissolving when they replicated the feat using pigs. They eventually resorted to Piranha Solution, which worked significantly better (as we all know). What I want to know is, what would you have done, professor? I’ve heard lye works significantly better, and would decompose bone as well, making it better for purposes shown here. Is that true?

[@foo0815]

Dishwasher powder should work well since corpses are essentially the same material as food stains...

[@KonradTheWizzard]

Asking for a friend, I presume? ... 😋

[@pathologicaldoubt]

Haha asking for a friend?? 👀

[@kallisto9166]

Another thing that Mythbusters were able to demonstrate was that dissolving a body like this results in a huge plume of toxic acrid smoke hundreds of feet high. Not exactly subtle.

[@zyeborm]

​@@kallisto9166 you could do it a little slower than they did. Keep you acid plumes manageable. At least that's what my friend told me.

[@WESsential]

Love to see the Professor doing well and making videos!

[@PattPlays]

My face when I tell my friends: No, this proffessional reacts video is REAL

[@alexhauptli4072]

I love that the professor mentioned that Krazy 8 looked like Daemon from Vlysium

[@Hamstray]

dirk of verystabium

[@pathologicaldoubt]

Drake from Drake & Josh

[@themathhatter5290]

I think the most interesting part is the Mythbusters tried to replicate this scene and the acid didn't eat through the tub, or at the very least, it didn't weaken the floor enough to break.

[@EarnestElephant]

Ty for posting this. I learned a lot

[@TheMrfish14]

Prof , you lighten up my day every time i see you in a video. Thank you

[@graemepennell]

Haha, loved the comparison to Derek Muller aka Veritasium. Just watched his latest vid also about the tracking of nuclear testing.

[@Dragongaga]

So, I think that "forgetting" about the plastic pools is not at all unrealistic, because both of them are amateur criminals, as is referenced later when they heist the barrel of raw material for their little...venture. It's one of the points of the story that in the beginning they're not adept at criminal stuff, so they're on edge and make mistakes. I can't remember if Jessie just owned these kids pools or Walter just forgot that there are other liquid holding items made of PE that they can use besides tubs. I think that's totally believable.

[@TheFakeyCakeMaker]

I loved my chemistry teacher he was wonderful and watching this professor explain this is as close as I'll ever get hearing my science teacher explain it so I'm so happy to watch this. Really lovely video from a really great guy.

[@neepgang4091]

It's nice to see this channel is still active and consistent

[@Toastmaster_5000]

I think it's plausible there would still be a lot of red blood left in the partially-dissolved corpse. Unlike the chicken, the gangsters weren't drained of their blood, and as pointed out, there wasn't enough acid to dissolve everything. So when they hit the ground real hard, it makes sense how the force could basically "eject" a bunch of red blood out.

[@rin_etoware_2989]

there's still the problem that it's *all* red. i imagine the scene would be that bit more believable if it was a mix of red, brown, black, and white.

[@Toastmaster_5000]

@@rin_etoware_2989 I agree, though considering there doesn't appear to be any documented case of anyone witnessing a corpse partially dissolved from acid falling from the floor, I don't think _anyone_ can really say what would accurately happen. The scene was dark enough that you wouldn't have seen much color variation while it was falling, and after hitting the ground, I think it makes sense for everything to be red, but we're not likely to find out. For Hollywood, they could've done a lot worse with realism.

[@ropersonline]

Please make this a miniseries, so we can hear from the Professor on all the episodes and seasons as he works his way through.

[@JP_Stone]

That's great. Love to see the Prof watching Breaking Bad and I hope we get some more episodes breaking down some of the other chemistry parts of the show.

[@LalitoTV]

Really hope this becomes a series, this was fantastic

[@Swoost]

i like how the professor says he doesnt like super violent/messed up stuff and then goes on about john haigh lol

[@JCtheMusicMan_]

Breaking Bad was a difficult show to take breaks from watching in one sitting! I learned to find a stopping point in the middle of the episodes because the episodes always end with a cliffhanger 😅 The show brilliantly illustrates how difficult it can be for an unseasoned person to be a successful criminal. I am eager to see your analysis of the shows chemistry! 💜

[@krysk11]

One of the videos that I was really looking forward to

[@ThZuao]

Dissolving bodies in HF was one of the tijuana cartels methods of disposing of bodies. A notorious one caught while the show was in it's infancy (2009) and very likely an inspiration for it in some way was El Pozolero, the Stew Maker (pozole is a kind of mexican meat stew), who admitted to dissolving more than 300 bodies after, you guessed it, bits of human bone were found scattered around his property. He used to dump bodies in barrels and ship them out as industrial waste. The undissolved bits were ground and used as plant fertilizer.

[@nuck-]

There is actually quite a few videos online of the "los zetas" dismembering bodies and placing them in acid to disolve them, i have watch them all myself. The drums they put the bodies in clearly said "sulfuric acid 70%" but they added something into the drums once the bodies were in them. I assume this was some sort of catalyst. The drums quickly boiled over onces this catalyst was poured in, they added about a half litre to the drum every minute or so. The body turned to a black mass pretty quickly. Gruesom stuff but for those who dont mind gore its very interesting. These things happen daily on our planet, its not a bad thing to leard about what your fellow species is doing.

[@ThZuao]

@@nuck- Yeah, this world is brutal. There's a thin line between savages and civilized and people with more power than they should have want to erase it. People are suffering because of it. I'm sure you heard the story of the lengendary Don Alejo Garza Tamez (RIP). People like him illustrate how used to get it their way, how used to impunity the Cartels are. But you'll be happy to hear that most of the Los Zetas original US Spec Ops trained leaders have been killed or captured.

[@jguo]

This reminds me of my high school chemistry lab. Not only did we have HF (not much though), we managed to steal a lump of sodium and tossed it into the boy’s toilet. Later when the lights were turned on, there was a huge explosion in the toilet that demolished the partitions. The school couldn’t identify the reason of the explosion and it didn’t have the toilet fixed for some time. So we used it with absolutely no privacy for a few weeks 😅 this was almost 30 years ago…

[@johndododoe1411]

I remember stories from 65 years ago of an enterprising school physics teacher who got their school equipped with radioactive supplies and appropriate equipment to teach classes on radioactivity long before such classes became common (40 years ago, similar schools would have standard prepackaged educational sources of gamma, beta and alpha radiation, but not 65 years ago). So I find it plausible that a high school chemistry teacher could convince his school to purchase whatever exotic supplies he wanted as long as the overall budget was kept.

[@AB-80X]

What a fun story. Any other fairytales?

[@IceMetalPunk]

Why did it only explode when the lights were turned on?

[@johnladuke6475]

@@IceMetalPunk That's how you know he's making it up.

[@jguo]

@@IceMetalPunk the lights were turned on and timed out after a minute or so. Probably the H2 gas entered the relays and got ignited by a load spark.

[@nugget130884]

With regards to the paddling pools, one could assume before they started the clean up they went out and bought everything they needed? But the creator Vince Gilligan has said he used artistic license to embellish some of the science. Still, love both BB and any video the professor is in.

[@truthsmiles]

Yeah my first thought was that Walt took over and went and got them for the cleanup operation. They appeared brand new.

[@auracle6184]

On the pulse as always! I kid, it's an amazing series and I'm glad the Professor is enjoying it.

[@Coastfog]

Good to see you Prof! A nice video as usual.

[@Trident023]

My exact thoughts when I watched the show: “How on earth did they manage to dissolve the tub, but not the body, using this tiny amount of acid?!” 😂 I also just realised they must have dissolved the floorboards under the tub as well, for it to fall through the ceiling like that…! Though I believe the producers kept some of it purposely vague, since the shows lawyers were quite worried about publishing an actual “how to dissolve a human body in your bathtub” tutorial. On a side note. I am always so impressed by Professor Poliakoff’s enthusiasm. No matter the subject, if he applies himself, he seems to do it with a great deal of enthusiasm. I really appreciate him sharing his thoughts and insights.

[@Physhi]

There are certain acids that you can make in bulk from on the shelf products which you can buy in bulk from certain stores in the US which can completely dissolve tissue and bone down to the DNA structure. I find it more unrealistic that the teacher didn't go and buy these products from different stores -- though the amount of people who watched that series *should never* be exposed in how to make such things for safety reasons.

[@ruinfox4108]

Really nice video. i love the way he talks its so calm,

[@Magic__7]

I love that the prof takes a teaching moment from all of this ware safty stuff and fellow the instrouctions

[@RustyCyler]

Please please please have the Professor 'react' to the whole BB series.

[@pcfilho425]

Wow. This is the crossover we all wanted to watch!!

[@Porkcfish]

Ya weren't wrong there, mate.

[@Slyder2828]

Looking forward to you reviewing the SUPERLAB!

[@TheFakeyCakeMaker]

I loved my chemistry teacher he was wonderful and watching this professor explain this is as close as I'll ever get hearing my science teacher explain it so I'm so happy to watch this. Trait liberty video from a really great guy.

[@pathologicaldoubt]

Is there any chance the professor will ‘break bad’? 😱

[@scrotiemcboogerballs1981]

I’d say one reason why the chemistry on the tv show is not accurate is so people can’t copy it and get hurt or hurt others because we all know how smart some people are lol

[@jeteamleider3714]

I giggled when he said that Krazy-8 looked like Veritasium

[@jordanbetteridge1598]

I need that Chemistry neck tie! Great critique, Professor!

[@jimg2850]

This reminds me of a story my dad told me about when he did something similar. He had a body to dispose of, I mean he worked in government lab and the sink was badly stained. Everything they did to clean it just didn't work so in the end they tried the HF on it. It came up spotless but was no longer water proof!

[@MotherFucker445]

I love this old guy it’s kind of adorable how he’s so legit upset over how they got it wrong because of how much he loves his field of study so much that a work a fiction getting it wrong triggers him this bad you can tell he just loves chemistry so much he’s probably dedicated most of his life researching it and teaching others to understand it that he considers it almost a crime to misrepresent it.

[@RiC_David]

The chemistry must be respected.

[@m4dizzle]

Love these, thank you!

[@runcycleskixc]

I needed this today.

[@ericpmoss]

I laugh at how the characters remain faithful to the idea of “better living through chemistry”, when they had a giant desert with scavengers to work with.

[@legitgopnik8431]

There's a well-balanced man. I'd watch a full season a day and finish the show within a week

[@bicivelo]

Say it ain’t so, prof! 😅 So happy to see your new vids when they come out!

[@tesoro9623]

Wow i am so happy i stumbled across this gentleman's page again, he is so smart and enjoyable to watch!

[@RussellFlowers]

Professor is going to get hooked on Breaking Bad.

[@roachdoggjr45]

This will be a viral video.

[@jayzee5712]

ayy

[@roachdoggjr45]

@@jayzee5712 waltur

[@sp10sn]

"I understand you made a purchase." Prof is on a watchlist.

[@MultiW2M]

Oh my gawd! I really like the videos where the professor appears. Pure love and respect from Mexico City.

[@RedDawn370]

These are fair and well reasoned criticisms. Well done professor! We need more of these on Breaking Bad!

[@turdferguson8095]

Mythbusters proved this as false, but your actual chemical reason why is great! The fact you did this analysis is awesome! You have to admit, it was one of the best shows in modern times.

[@ayrts01]

no they didnt mythbusters admit at the very beginning of the video they are using a similar but different type of acid

[@BEADWORLD]

I could honestly just sit and listen to the professor any day all day long

[@m1g4s]

One reason why you couldn't use the pools: they were probably made of PVC, which melts between 80 and 100°C, and can start degrading bellow that. HF reactions can heat up to far above that temperature

[@jiioannidis7215]

For your next trick: mercury fulminate wouldn't explode the way it did in Tuco's office. Someone else already mentioned the problems with thermite. And a phramacology issue: would whatever poison was in the tequila be slow-acting enough to be partially absorbed by the presumably activated-charcoal capsules that Gus swallowed, and the rest vomited, so that it wouldn't be fatal.

[@HerculesRockefellerESQ]

If the fulminated mercury had exploded, the single shard, likely the rest of the bag would have too from the blast concussion, if memory serves me correctly.

[@henry9266]

This is the moment veritasium becomes crazy-8

[@warrenslittleworld1387]

Oh I definitely would want more episodes like this!!!!

[@PureZOOKS]

I have not seen BB, but I will happily listen to Prof's plain english descriptions of each episode for the entire series.

[@clxwncrxwn]

Respirators are quite easy to obtain along with their various filters, one model I bought came with a vacuum sealed filter for various fumes or organic odours etc,

[@WilliamFord972]

I have a B.S. in chemistry. I’m currently doing my PhD. Is the chemistry exaggerated? Very. Is it a great show? Absolutely.

[@nuck-]

Could you add an oxydizer or a peroxide?

[@planetfox890]

Nothing more awesome than watching a kindly old professor talk about dissolving a corpse in acid.

[@davidrenton]

i think the Professor in another timeline is the cleaner John Wick calls.

[@kcgunesq]

Of course, I trust the professor to know the chemistry and of course, it doesn't change any part of his analysis, but for American viewers, the jugs of HF are shown in what most would recognize as a 1 gallon jug. Many things, especially cleaning supplies like windshield wiper fluid or ordinary vinegar are sold in such jugs.

[@LoveDoctorNL]

Great video going into detail. Could we also have a video with professor Poliakoff commenting whether he believes he (like Walter) could make the best and cleanest version of Crystal Meth? 😊 Does being a chemistry professor make you a better drugs producer?

[@maxime3648]

I've studied semiconductors and went through lab classes multiple times at university level... Never have I seen such a large bottle of HF, it's absolutely insane that a highschool would have any

[@guysimpson9420]

Love the summary

[@aperson2703]

I love that he's mostly upset that there wasn't enough HF. It's for the purpose of the show. Just imagine that he grabbed more HF later but could only grab two bottles at a time. Grabbing bottles from the school is also a plot device for later.

[@jackielinde7568]

In defense of the "mistake" where Jesse puts the corpse in the bathtub fully dressed not knowing that HF wouldn't dissolve the natural fibers, I could see him making that mistake. Walter never told him to undress the body, and Jesse did fail Walter's chemistry class. Heck, I took chemistry in high school, and we never covered HF in our class. So while Walter (A professional chemist) should have known, it's completely understandable that Jesse didn't. Also, as someone who lives Phoenix, Arizona (kind of next door to Albuquerque, New Mexico), I can tell you that you'd DIE in an Albuquerque or Phoenix summer wearing 100% Polyester. While their shoes, belts, watches, etc. would be largely synthetic, their shirts, t-shirts, and jeans would be cottons or cotton blends. For example, the Wrangler brand of blue jeans I wear are 100% cotton. And it's the same for my t-shirts. While it would be ideal to strip the bodies naked for dissolving and washing everything else for donating to Gooodwill (a charity thrift store in the US), it's not like what we wear in the Southwestern US would pose much of a problem for HF. Now, when the HF solution "ate" through the bathtub, dumping the "solution" onto the floor below, yeah, there should have been things left over that HF didn't eat. That's completely inexcusable.

[@killernor23]

Prof to help you out those are one gallon jugs of HF. The same style jug thats typically use for car window wash fluid. Very common here in the U.S but I agree he would need well over 25 gallons to cover the body. Most bathtubs are 50 to 80 gallons in volume. 2 gallons would just react with his underside or the bathtub.

[@yasoof1]

I have so much respect and love to the professor