H2-Oh, Really?, Part 2

My uncle is a professional chemist (not that I’m entirely sure what that entails even now), so when I was starting chemistry in high school, I couldn’t help but jokingly ask my uncle for his advice.

Uncle: “I’ll be happy to help if there’s anything you don’t understand. I love rambling about this stuff.”

Me: “Well, what can you tell me now?”

Uncle: “Before you even started? Unless you want a detailed lecture on the periodic table and the various ways atoms bind to each other, not much. Don’t lick, taste, or smell mystery chemicals in a beaker, and bases are just as dangerous as acids?”

Me: “You’re such a big help.”

Uncle: “No wait, I actually have something useful. Any time on any test they ask why water does something strange, answer hydrogen bonds.”

Me: “What are hydrogen bonds?”

Uncle: “Doesn’t matter, just know if it’s about water, the answer is hydrogen bonds.”

I thought he was kidding, but during the next two years I used this one random piece of advice on multiple tests, and so far, it’s never steered me wrong. Thanks, uncle, for this incredibly specific but effective advice.

Related:
H2-Oh, Really?