4 ms·

Apparently it's a subtle taste, though; you can only taste the sweetness if you haven't tasted anything else recently.

crankylinuxuser 7y ago
That's peculiar, given that I didn't think tastebuds could perform nuclear fission or fusion. And chemistry pertains to modification of electrons and bonding energies. I'm seeing placebo or contamination.
- sp332 7y ago
  https://wat.lewiscollard.com/archive/www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem07/chem07552.htm https://wat.lewiscollard.com/archive/www.newton.dep.anl.gov/... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_isotope_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_isotope_effect
- amluto 7y ago
  The difference in mass between D and H is huge (2x), and this affects reaction kinetics.
- drdeca 7y ago
  The claim I read is that it is due to the mass of the molecules being different. The masses being larger should result in them moving slower I think? (At the same temperature) Allegedly this influences how the diffusion/osmosis works out, resulting in more or less water in the cells on the tongue or something? It is also possible that I am getting things mixed up with when he tasted extremely pure water, which iirc causes some cells to burst, causing a sweet taste?
- dekhn 7y ago
  Kinetic isotope effect
- YUMad 7y ago
  Lol. When I feel the difference between 20kg and 30kg weights, I'm performing nuclear fission/fusion?
- yomly 7y ago
  As is with all things, once you start getting down to the details most our mental models are just that - mental models. I am guessing other people have downvoted you for adopting an ignorantly confident tone on something you are not a specialist for - this is probably a bit harsh but perhaps this can be a friendly reminder to keep an open mind about these things. Yes, Chemistry is effectively the study of electrons, but nature has been shown to be isotopically sensitive. Moreover, I have heard of chemistry on radioactive chemicals being a nightmare to reproduce because there are certain reactions where there are competing reaction pathways which are kinetically controlled and so isotopic interactions can wreak havoc on your products.
- zamalek 7y ago
  You should probably read up on how the tongue and nose actually work.
TeMPOraL 7y ago
Isn't it for the same reason regular, pure water is also sweet? I don't know the explanation for that one, I always assumed taste buds have neutral taste calibrated for water found in real environments - with salt and minerals dissolved in it. (This is probably not correct, but I also imagine it like this: AFAIK pure water forces osmosis to go in the other direction than usual, so maybe the taste one feels isn't "positive sweet" but "negative salty".)
- blattimwind 7y ago
  > Isn't it for the same reason regular, pure water is also sweet? Soft water is sweet. Hard water tastes fresh.
- greendestiny_re 7y ago
  I recently bought and drank some distilled water. It tasted oily and I'd swear for a brief instant I was able to taste colors.

That's peculiar, given that I didn't think tastebuds could perform nuclear fission or fusion. And chemistry pertains to modification of electrons and bonding energies. I'm seeing placebo or contamination.

sp332 7y ago
https://wat.lewiscollard.com/archive/www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem07/chem07552.htm https://wat.lewiscollard.com/archive/www.newton.dep.anl.gov/... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_isotope_effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinetic_isotope_effect
amluto 7y ago
The difference in mass between D and H is huge (2x), and this affects reaction kinetics.
drdeca 7y ago
The claim I read is that it is due to the mass of the molecules being different. The masses being larger should result in them moving slower I think? (At the same temperature) Allegedly this influences how the diffusion/osmosis works out, resulting in more or less water in the cells on the tongue or something? It is also possible that I am getting things mixed up with when he tasted extremely pure water, which iirc causes some cells to burst, causing a sweet taste?
dekhn 7y ago
Kinetic isotope effect
YUMad 7y ago
Lol. When I feel the difference between 20kg and 30kg weights, I'm performing nuclear fission/fusion?
yomly 7y ago
As is with all things, once you start getting down to the details most our mental models are just that - mental models. I am guessing other people have downvoted you for adopting an ignorantly confident tone on something you are not a specialist for - this is probably a bit harsh but perhaps this can be a friendly reminder to keep an open mind about these things. Yes, Chemistry is effectively the study of electrons, but nature has been shown to be isotopically sensitive. Moreover, I have heard of chemistry on radioactive chemicals being a nightmare to reproduce because there are certain reactions where there are competing reaction pathways which are kinetically controlled and so isotopic interactions can wreak havoc on your products.
zamalek 7y ago
You should probably read up on how the tongue and nose actually work.

TeMPOraL 7y ago

Isn't it for the same reason regular, pure water is also sweet? I don't know the explanation for that one, I always assumed taste buds have neutral taste calibrated for water found in real environments - with salt and minerals dissolved in it. (This is probably not correct, but I also imagine it like this: AFAIK pure water forces osmosis to go in the other direction than usual, so maybe the taste one feels isn't "positive sweet" but "negative salty".)

blattimwind 7y ago
> Isn't it for the same reason regular, pure water is also sweet? Soft water is sweet. Hard water tastes fresh.
greendestiny_re 7y ago
I recently bought and drank some distilled water. It tasted oily and I'd swear for a brief instant I was able to taste colors.