How to dissolve bodies
After murdering Jesse Pinkman’s former meth business partner, Walt and Jesse attempt to dissolve his body with hydrofluoric acid. Walt had told Jesse that this acid should only be stored in polyethene (plastic). However, Jesse disregarded his instructions and dumped the body and hydrofluoric acid in a ceramic bathtub, resulting in the acid dissolving through the bathtub and the floor beneath it.
It was put to the test by the Mythbusters, who decided to increase the potency and volume by using 6 gallons of sulfuric acid to dissolve an entire pig. Even when the pig softened, it did not produce the same results as the show. For example, not turning slush-like, not eating away at the ceramic, and not dissolving through the floor beneath.
What’s the science behind it? Although fluorine is a reactive ion, a solution of hydrofluoric acid will not fully dissociate. In other words, it will form hydrogen and fluorine ions in water. As the strength of an acid is dependent on its ability to dissociate, HF is relatively weak. However, that is not to say that it can’t be dangerous! It can corrode metal and break silicon oxide bonds present in the glass. Additionally, contact with the acid can cause tissue damage, cardiac arrest and even death.
Burning locks
In one episode, for their ever-growing meth empire, Walt and Jesse broke into a chemical factory to obtain ingredients. To break the lock, Walt utilizes the thermite reaction—an exothermic (meaning that it releases heat) reaction redox reaction; this reaction is often used to weld train tracks due to the immense amount of heat produced. To replicate this reaction, you would need a metal oxide and reactive metal powder. In the show, they used aluminium powder and powdered iron oxide to break the metal lock.
Ricin
One of the earliest ways Walt and Jesse used to murder someone was using ricin, a natural poison found in castor beans. It inhibits protein synthesis in the ribosomes, leading to the widespread death of cells in numerous organic systems. In the show, Walt explains that ricin is an effective method of killing because, despite not being the fastest method of killing, it leaves behind little to no trace. However, nowadays, something as simple as a urine test can be used to detect the presence of ricinine, which is an indicator of ricin exposure.
DIY batteries
Walt and Jesse’s luck runs out when their meth RV battery dies in the middle of the desert. Fortunately, Walt improves a simple battery using just acid, metals and wires. The science behind this is relatively simple. When two different metals are in an acid, the difference between the chemical reactivity will generate a voltage—this is an electrochemical cell. In the episode, Walt connects these into a series to form a battery.
Although the science behind the mechanism Walt explains is accurate, a simple battery like the one shown in the show would not have generated enough power to run the RV.
Edited by: Charlene Kurniawan
Sources Cited
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