'Big Clive' tastes electrolyte(!)

[radioman]

"It's considered toxic.. I've never actually tasted it.... ... Let's taste it"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAQClL3bZzg

[ppppenguin]

The electrolyte may be related to antifreeze, but not the toxic type which is methanol.

[Kalee20]

Even the other common anti-freeze, ethylene glycol, is toxic, though admittedly to a lesser extent.

I've tasted toxic compounds, and smelled toxic gases too. But it's been informed sensory experience, knowing the degree of toxicity and the lasting effects. Tasting followed by spitting out and washing mouth, rather than tasting/swallowing/drinking! Knowing what something bad tastes/smells like is knowing when to take alarm in the future. And I wouldn't try tasting hydrofluoric acid to see if it had the characteristic acid sour taste.

Hydrogen sulphide is a highly toxic gas, but in very small concentrations can be metabolised - it has to, it arises in Nature. And almonds taste/smell of hydrogen cyanide.

That said, I wouldn't taste the electrolyte from a burst capacitor, I'd know what any droplets were in the vicinity of a burst electrolytic cap, (Picric acid? Ammonium tetraborate? Etc?) and I'd swill out anyway! And if it was a leaking liquid-filled, non-polarised high-voltage jobbie, I'd be rather more cautious!

[Mike Watterson]

Oops. Whrong threeed