You may have heard the myth that if you swallow a razor blade, you will die because it will injure your intestines.
How could this happen and what are the consequences for your health? Let’s explore the scientific explanation in this article.
Stomach Acid and Silica
Stomach acid is a fluid produced by the stomach glands to aid in food digestion. Stomach acid has a pH of about 1.5-3.5, which means it is highly acidic.
For comparison, water has a pH of 7, which is neutral, while soda has a pH of around 3, which means it’s acidic.
Silica is a chemical compound consisting of silicon and oxygen. Silica is commonly found in nature, for example, in sand, rocks, soil, and plants.
Silica is also used as an industrial material, for example, in the production of glass, ceramics, and concrete.
Razors are cutting tools made of steel coated with a thin layer of silica. This silica coating functions to enhance the sharpness and durability of the razor blade.
Razors are typically used for shaving hair, cutting paper, or other objects.
Experiments and Results
Several scientific studies have been conducted to test the effect of stomach acid on silica.
One of these studies was conducted by M. Amin et al., published in the Journal of Colloid and Interface Science in 2016.
This study reported experimental results showing that stomach acid has a positive effect on the solubility and dissolution of silica.
In this experiment, the researchers used hydrochloric acid (HCl) solution with varying concentrations to simulate stomach acid.
Then, they added silica particles of different sizes to the acid solution.
Next, they measured changes in mass, pH, and silica concentration in the solution after a certain time.
The results showed that the more acidic the solution, the faster the silica particles dissolved. Additionally, the smaller the particle size, the higher the dissolution rate.
This indicates that stomach acid can accelerate the process of silica dissolution, especially if the particles are nano-sized.
Interpretation and Implications
What do these experimental results mean for us, who may have accidentally swallowed a razor blade? Will we survive or vice versa?
Don’t worry, it turns out we don’t need to panic if that happens. According to this research, our stomach acid is capable of breaking down the silica layer on the razor blade within two hours. This means that the razor blade we swallowed will become blunt and will not injure our intestines.
However, this does not mean that we can swallow razor blades at will. There are some things we need to consider, namely:
The razor blade we swallow may still be able to injure the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum before dissolving.
Therefore, we should immediately drink plenty of water to protect the mucous membrane layer of these organs.
Stomach acid reacting with silica will produce hydrogen gas (H2) and silicon dioxide (SiO2).
This hydrogen gas can cause bloating, while silicon dioxide can precipitate in the intestines and form stones.
Therefore, we should immediately consult a doctor to check the condition of our stomach and remove any gas or stones that may form.
The razor blade we swallow also contains metals such as iron, chromium, and nickel. These metals can be toxic to our bodies if accumulated in large amounts.
Therefore, we should immediately drink milk or antidote medication to bind these metals and prevent poisoning.
Conclusion and Recommendations
From this article, we can conclude that:
Our stomach acid has a high acidity level that can break down razor blades within two hours.
The razor blade we swallow will not injure our intestines, but it can cause other problems such as wounds, bloating, stones, or poisoning.
We must take preventive and treatment measures immediately if we accidentally swallow a razor blade.
The advice we can give is:
Never swallow a razor blade intentionally or unintentionally. Razors are not food or medicine that can benefit our bodies. Razors are dangerous tools that can cause injury or death if misused.
If you accidentally swallow a razor blade, don’t panic, but immediately take the following steps: drink plenty of water, drink milk or antidote medication, and go to the doctor to check the condition of your stomach.
If you want to know more about stomach acid and silica, you can read the scientific articles I cited below. You can also search for other information on the internet using relevant keywords.