Murphy's Law 7: ...Maybe?

[John Cribati]

I'm not very concerned about Matt right now, but in a few hours when he feels the second burn... May Fate and Fortune have mercy on him.

[The_Admiral]

second burn? What second burn?

[Silverraptor]

I for one enjoy spicy things for the flavor of it. It may be suprising to people, but burning your tongue off actually has a distinct and good flavor while its melting. You just got to train yourself to focus more on the flavor and less on the melting.

[John Cribati]

second burn? What second burn?

The spiciest foods burn on entrance and on... exit.

[The_Admiral]

All the exits?... Ouch I haven't been going to the right places.

[Alagaesian]

See, I come from an area full of spice-wimps. You know, the kind of people that complain about how spicy the food is from China Express. I used to think I was daring when I ate straight jalepenos. The kind of spicy I'm into is the burn I get when eating Taco Bell.

But, I have heard of people eating the spiciest thing on a menu and smelling like it for three days. I sure Matt would find that kind of thing manly. Radic, not so much.

[Asta Kask]

Capsaicin - the taste of spicy...

I'll leave it to Coffee to give it a rational name. I've repressed all IUPAC nomenclature beyond the most basic.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Capsaicin - the taste of spicy...

I'll leave it to Coffee to give it a rational name. I've repressed all IUPAC nomenclature beyond the most basic.

I don't take organic chemistry until next year; I can't name it until then. All I know is that it's got a long carbon chain and one of those carbon rings

[The_Admiral]

Sorry can someone translate that chemical into how much torture am I gonna get for eating it?

[Worlok]

It's to prove that you're a Manly man. Or in the case of a woman, an awesomely resistant woman.

In Germany, we have a saying for exactly that: "If you can't take some spice once in a while, you're not a -man, and certainly not Ger-!" I'm not exactly sure why I'm currently telling you this.

[Asta Kask]

Sorry can someone translate that chemical into how much torture am I gonna get for eating it?

Somewhere around 15 million Scoville units, if you chewed on pure capsaicin. Warning - the hottest chili peppers are about a million Scoville units.

[SamBurke]

It's to prove that you're a Manly man. Or in the case of a woman, an awesomely resistant woman.

Or in the case of a seven year old... I have no idea.

But she did eat 12 Jalepenos, so that has to prove something.

[Admiral Harkov]

Sorry can someone translate that chemical into how much torture am I gonna get for eating it?

Homer Simpson knows.

[Dusk Eclipse]

Oh common spicy food is tasty end of discussion, though I am a bit curious on what kind of RW food inspired Larian Cuisine I am guessing Indian or at least Asian; but I am not so sure.

[Alagaesian]

Ooh! I'm a student of chemical engineering! I should know this. Except, I don't. I'd be able to name that without looking up some IUPAC naming conventions in my orgo-chem book if it weren't for that meddling N.

As it is, the reason why this molecule is normally referred to as "capsaicin" is because its formal name is (E)-N-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-8-methylnon-6-enamide.

I can at least tell you what makes it so effective chemically. The ring-area has the polar -OH and -O- groups on it, which allows allows that end to stick to your tongue like a magnet. This gives it ample opportunity to react with your tongue and give you the allergic reaction that we think of as the "spicy" taste. The long, hydrophobic tail on the other side of the ring is what makes it to difficult to eliminate the taste from your mouth - it keeps it from dissolving properly in your saliva, hence the substance coats your tongue and won't wash off no matter how much water you chase it with.

[Asta Kask]

It attaches to heat receptors and activates them. Apparently alcohol is a very effective way of rinsing the mouth, because of aforementioned nonpolar groups. Dwarven ale (was it 240 proof?) should be very effective in three ways - a) get rid of the capsaicin, b) get Radic into bed, c) make sure Matt is so drunk nothing actually happens (as one of my favorite podcasts put it "a woman can just close her eyes and go to a happy place, a man has to perform").

[leakingpen]

Ooh! I'm a student of chemical engineering! I should know this. Except, I don't. I'd be able to name that without looking up some IUPAC naming conventions in my orgo-chem book if it weren't for that meddling N.

As it is, the reason why this molecule is normally referred to as "capsaicin" is because its formal name is (E)-N-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-8-methylnon-6-enamide.

I can at least tell you what makes it so effective chemically. The ring-area has the polar -OH and -O- groups on it, which allows allows that end to stick to your tongue like a magnet. This gives it ample opportunity to react with your tongue and give you the allergic reaction that we think of as the "spicy" taste. The long, hydrophobic tail on the other side of the ring is what makes it to difficult to eliminate the taste from your mouth - it keeps it from dissolving properly in your saliva, hence the substance coats your tongue and won't wash off no matter how much water you chase it with.

Ain't science grand! Its why milk does the trick, or anything fatty, it will dissolve into the fat, loosening its hold on the tounge. Alcohol works too, iirc.

[Alagaesian]

Yup, it's the whole "like dissolves like" concept. The polar head of capsaicin isn't as polar as water, but it is roughly the same polarity as an alcohol, so alcohols and other slightly-less-polar liquids will lift the heads off your tongue. There is still that hydrophobic tail to worry about, however. Though it's not as "phobic" to alcohols as it is to water, I still don't think it will dissolve very well. I guess your main hope is to use a large amount of solvent and hope for the best. That dwarf on the other table is onto something.

On the other hand, if you use a liquid like hexane or dichloromethane that is nonpolar enough to dissolve the tail, not only will you probably make yourself sick, but it won't be polar enough to dissolve the head.

Moral of the story: chewing pure capsaicin is for crazy people who don't realize what kind of chemical nightmare they're getting themselves into.

[Maquise]

Isn't pure capsaicin toxic anyway?

[CoffeeIncluded]

Science is awesome! And I'm going to update today or tomorrow, depending how long I can pull myself away from Dr. Who.

[SamBurke]

Science is awesome! And I'm going to update today or tomorrow, depending how long I can pull myself away from Dr. Who.

Science is fun! (Cookie if reference received!)

Also, which Doctor?

[Silverraptor]

Science is awesome! And I'm going to update today or tomorrow, depending how long I can pull myself away from Dr. Who.

Oh god. Not you too.

[The_Admiral]

What? Kill the heretic! *retrieves torch and pitchfork*

[Asta Kask]

Capsaicin toxicity:

Acute health effects

Capsaicin is a highly irritant material requiring proper protective goggles, respirators, and proper hazardous material handling procedures. Capsaicin takes effect upon skin contact (irritant, sensitizer), eye contact (irritant), ingestion, and inhalation (lung irritant, lung sensitizer). Severe over-exposure to pure capsaicin can result in death; the lethal dose (LD50 in mice) is 47.2 mg/kg.

Painful exposures to capsaicin-containing peppers are among the most common plant-related exposures presented to poison centers. They cause burning or stinging pain to the skin, and if ingested in large amounts by adults or small amounts by children, can produce nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and burning diarrhea. Eye exposure produces intense tearing, pain, conjunctivitis and blepharospasm.

I'd say... Fort save DC 11, 1/1d2 Con. Not hugely toxic, but not something you'd want the children to play with.

[Alagaesian]

That gives me a wicked idea of getting a torture chamber involved in a DnD campaign with the main method of torture being a poison powder called capsaicin.

[Rising Phoenix]

That gives me a wicked idea of getting a torture chamber involved in a DnD campaign with the main method of torture being a poison powder called capsaicin.

The 'all you must eat' feast?

[leakingpen]

I like something I make called oil of evil. Basically, when stripping seeds and membrane from peppers, especially serrano and hotter, I put them in a jar with everclear. Warm it up, let it stand at about 100 f for several hours, then let is stand at room temp for about a week.

strain, leave open to dry a bit. You get left with an oily alcohol. Paint it on surfaces with a brush, the alcohol evaporates fast, leaving just a slight oil residue that has a large amount of "the cap". Excellent prank/revenge item.

[McDouggal]

I like something I make called oil of evil. Basically, when stripping seeds and membrane from peppers, especially serrano and hotter, I put them in a jar with everclear. Warm it up, let it stand at about 100 f for several hours, then let is stand at room temp for about a week.

strain, leave open to dry a bit. You get left with an oily alcohol. Paint it on surfaces with a brush, the alcohol evaporates fast, leaving just a slight oil residue that has a large amount of "the cap". Excellent prank/revenge item.

This. Looks. Awesome. Too bad Everclear is illegal in my home state.

[MoleMage]

Leakingpen, that may be the most devious thing I've ever heard of anyone doing.

[Asta Kask]

Oh, and don't do this. It never helps.