Re: [ATM] Microwaves and craziness

[Dominic-Luc Webb <dlwebb@canit.se>]

On Wed, 9 Jan 2008, kreig wrote:

> Part of my job requires me to attend health classes.
>
> We had a presentation on healthy lifestyles by a local respected
> Chiropractor. One thing he mentioned is our lack of understanding of
> microwaves in use in our homes. His claim was plants watered with microwaved
> water would die, while water heated on a standard stove top would be just
> fine. Of course the water was allowed to cool back to room temperature
> before the plants were watered.
>
> Crazyness!!!!!
>
> Kreig

Not sure, but certainly far fetched! Tap water is a bit
complicated as there are a lot of organics and minerals.
Chemists know very well that the way energy is delivered
can have profound influence on whether a reaction will
go or not. You can break bonds preferentially for instance.
Boiling is simply adding heat to the system, but adding
microwaves can target very specific functional groups.
Admittedly I am skeptical about plants dying. I would
like to see a clear example using suitable containers.

Suitable containers: plastics may indeed present a problem
due to liberation of plasticizers that are thought in some
cases to act as hormones that can kill plants. As relates to
ATMing, one should think about how the container used might
contaminate the melt.

Dominic

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