# Gas In A Pill, Why Not! Our Chemists Can Duplicate Everything Else.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [June 29, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708 "2008-06-29T23:36:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@lightstorm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightstorm)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/1 "2008-06-29T23:36:19Z")
A GENERIC GASOLINE !!
Let"s stir the pot, shall we.
In the early 1960’s I recall a newspaper article, it appeared only once and was never heard of again, as if it was
erased from our collective mind consciousness.
This article spoke of a scientist, chemist who invented a pill you drop into water and it produced a non pollutant gasoline
that any car could run on.
Hummmm, either he got paid off, or killed off, in any case, he and his invention was never heard of again.
Think about it, let’s use some common sense shall we.
Our pharmaceutical Companies have scientist who can chemically duplicate practically any plant found in our Amazon jungles.
We can virtually transform any natural compound into an identical chemical compound.
Why have we forgotten in this 21’s century, 2008 to do this relatively simple procedure for OIL? ie… GASOLINE
As the collective mind consciousness some how it was deleted to propagate the powers that be, those greedy power controlling ego"s.
Well, if you are a chemist now is your chance to beat the bastards.
In this day and age probably any good High school student if they have access to a lab can recreate this pill.
DO IT!!! NOW IS THE TIME, DO IT!!!
The only thing that limits us is ourselves and lack of imagination !
Time to break out of the boxes that bind us!!!
There is no such word as cant!!! You CAN do it!!!
LOVE…
---
### Author:  [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2008, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/2 "2008-06-29T23:44:09Z")
Killed off, or bought off.
Or had it proven that he couldn’t do it. Ya know - something a little simpler.
---
### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [June 29, 2008, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/3 "2008-06-29T23:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=lightstorm]
Think about it, let’s use some common sense shall we.
Our pharmaceutical Companies have scientist who can chemically duplicate practically any plant found in our Amazon jungles.
We can virtually transform any natural compound into an identical chemical compound.
Why have we forgotten in this 21’s century, 2008 to do this relatively simple procedure for OIL? ie.. GASOLINE
[/QUOTE]
There is not common sense. It’s common ignorance. Of course we can synthesize oil and gasoline. Never heard of synthetic oil? Gasoline can be, and has been, synthesized, as well, but the process is inefficient (read: expensive.) However, it’s not remotely possible to create a pill to turn water into an equal volume of gasoline because water is severely lacking on one of the major elements needed: carbon. It’s just hydrogen and oxygen and no pill is going to change that. Period. It’s not just gasoline, either. We can’t do that for any of the other substances you mention, either.
---
### Author:  [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2008, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/4 "2008-06-30T00:17:53Z")
[QUOTE=lightstorm]
We can virtually transform any natural compound into an identical chemical compound.
[/QUOTE]
What does this mean? It makes no sense at all.
> [@](#):
>
> Well, if you are a chemist now is your chance to beat the bastards.
> In this day and age probably any good High school student if they have access to a lab can recreate this pill.
Come back when you’ve taken a high-school chemistry course, and then we’ll have something to talk about. Otherwise, you have no idea what science can and can’t do vis-a-vis fuel technology.
Vlad/Igor
---
### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2008, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/5 "2008-06-30T00:18:49Z")
What I like about the OP is that s/he is admitting that s/he lacks the skills of a high school student. Or else s/he would be doing this on her/his own. Since it’s so simple and potentially lucrative.
[QUOTE=lightstorm]
In this day and age probably any good High school student if they have access to a lab can recreate this pill.
[/QUOTE]
On preview: Beaten by **Vlad/Igor**. Rats.
---
### Author:  [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2008, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/6 "2008-06-30T00:20:15Z")
The OP doesn’t reference a column. The closest I could find was [Is there a pill that can turn water into gasoline?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_399.html) from 1984.
---
### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/7 "2008-06-30T01:59:23Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.]
It’s just hydrogen and oxygen and no pill is going to change that.
[/QUOTE]
What about a carbon pill? Huh?
I run circles around you logically. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [June 30, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/8 "2008-06-30T04:12:56Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone]
What about a carbon pill? Huh?
I run circles around you logically. 😃
[/QUOTE]
How’s that running around in circles working out for you, btw? 😃
---
### Author:  [@Vlad\_Igor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Igor)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/9 "2008-07-01T00:50:18Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone]
What about a carbon pill? Huh?
[/QUOTE]
Pfff. You have a carbohydrate. Sheez, take a high school chem class already. 😃
---
### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2008, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/10 "2008-07-01T01:16:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> What does this mean? It makes no sense at all.
It makes plenty of sense. I can convert water into water; I can convert ethanol into ethanol; I can convert 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin into 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin. In fact, I can convert any compound at all into an identical compound.
Back to the OP: The great Arthur C. Clarke once famously remarked that any sufficiently-advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. What he neglected to mention is that, so far as most folks are concerned, we passed that point centuries ago. So many people observe that technology can do many wondrous things, and then conclude that technology can do _all_ wondrous things. Unfortunately, it can’t.
---
### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2008, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/11 "2008-07-01T01:35:50Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos]
It makes plenty of sense. I can convert water into water; I can convert ethanol into ethanol; I can convert 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin into 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin. In fact, I can convert any compound at all into an identical compound.
[/QUOTE]
That’s not “converting,” that’s called “having.”
---
### Author:  [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2008, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/12 "2008-07-01T03:05:47Z")
Well, we can synthesize most stuff given the right starting compounds. Most of my organic chemistry courses consisted of questions starting out “Using benzene, toluene, alcohols of four carbons and fewer and any necessary inorganic compounds synthesize the following compound…”
Of course, none of this was a pill that converted water into gasoline, and if we ever had a pill to turn water into gasoline it would have to start out with greater enthalpy than the resulting gasoline, but I appreciate the nostalgia, it’s been a long time since I thought about that. I considered having a bumper sticker made saying “Organic Chemists do it with Alcohols of Four Carbons or Fewer” but I figured it would take too long to read.
---
### Author:  [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2008, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/13 "2008-07-01T04:58:54Z")
[QUOTE=lightstorm]
.
[snip]
In this day and age probably any good High school student if they have access to a lab can recreate this pill.
DO IT!!! NOW IS THE TIME, DO IT!!!
[snip]
LOVE…
[/QUOTE]
Random capitalization, rows of exclamation points, and a closing of “LOVE…”. Reminds me of a [thread I started a couple of years ago](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=352281) …
---
### Author:  [@SeanArenas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeanArenas)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/14 "2008-07-01T12:51:21Z")
[QUOTE=Chronos]
I can convert water into water; I can convert ethanol into ethanol; I can convert 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin into 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin. In fact, I can convert any compound at all into an identical compound.
[/QUOTE]
Do you charge for this service? Can you do it for me over the Intarweb, or do I have to ship the compound to you?
---
### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [July 1, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/15 "2008-07-01T16:43:06Z")
[QUOTE=Vlad/Igor]
Pfff. You have a carbohydrate. Sheez, take a high school chem class already. 😃
[/QUOTE]
Hydrocarbon or carbohydrate, they both make you fat.
Hmmm, considering my potential as biodiesel, I should hire a bodyguard. :eek:
---
### Author:  [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2008, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/16 "2008-07-02T07:57:40Z")
[QUOTE=SeanArenas]
Do you charge for this service? Can you do it for me over the Intarweb, or do I have to ship the compound to you?
[/QUOTE]
Actually, I don’t want to speak for **Chronos** but I think you’ll find that he already did it for you yesterday. He’s a very accommodating guy.
---
### Author:  [@Baldwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baldwin)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2008, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/17 "2008-07-02T10:03:41Z")
[QUOTE=lightstorm]
There is no such word as cant!!!
[/QUOTE]
Well, I guess that says it all.
---
### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2008, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/18 "2008-07-02T13:47:45Z")
Webster’s New Millennium™ Dictionary of English:
> [@](#):
>
> **cant** _n_
> Definition: _phrases that have been endlessly repeated and have lost impact and meaning; a type of phraseology, such as affected and insincere religious speech_
---
### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/19 "2008-07-02T14:23:40Z")
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.]
That’s not “converting,” that’s called “having.”
[/QUOTE]
What if I baptize the compound? Have I converted it then?
---
### Author:  [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)
#### Post date: [July 2, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-in-a-pill-why-not-our-chemists-can-duplicate-everything-else/454708/20 "2008-07-02T14:39:44Z")
I can convert your gasoline into my gasoline if you just look the other way for a second.
[QUOTE=lightstorm]
The only thing that limits us is ourselves and lack of imagination !
[/QUOTE]
Yeah. And the laws of physics. Just because you can fly in your imagination, doesn’t mean gravity will let you!
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