Submitted by Chairman_Mittens t3_y96dfg in askscience
karnal_chikara t1_itb2uql wrote
Reply to comment by regular_modern_girl in Why does alcohol kill bacteria, but not the cells that our bodies are composed of? by Chairman_Mittens
So can I kill someone by putting him/her in a vat of highly concentrated alcohol and provide them with oxygen to breathe
regular_modern_girl t1_itbsqsj wrote
Possibly, at least in theory. The epidermal layer of their skin would provide enough protection it would take a very long time, like unless you’re also keeping them alive with an IV as well dehydration or even starvation would definitely get them first. However, if we’re talking a solution of above 90% ethanol here, the process might be quicker, as that would be enough to debride their outer skin cells pretty significantly given some time (and once ethanol penetrated into their internal tissues, then there would start to really be some problems, not least of which that ethanol pulls a lot of water out of cells besides also eating away at their membranes).
There are probably literally tens of millions of more efficient ways to kill someone, but with high enough concentration of ethanol it probably could be done (keep in mind though that ethanol above 90% isn’t like alcohol people drink, like even everclear isn’t more than 80% iirc, and because of how hygroscopic it as and the way it pulls moisture from tissue, the alcohol would rapidly dilute itself during the process).
karnal_chikara t1_itc813g wrote
Damn thanks a lot What do you think is the most efficient and unique way to kill someone?
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