"It’s Not Just Bullying, It’s a Chemical Attack": The Terrifying Reality of the Caustic Soda Incident in Niigata
A shocking incident recently occurred at a junior high school in Niigata Prefecture, where a student suffered oral burns after a classmate tricked them into eating sodium hydroxide—a highly corrosive and poisonous substance—by claiming it was "candy." While a third-party committee has officially classified the act as "bullying," a wave of concern has erupted on social media, with many arguing that the extreme danger of the substance makes this a clear case of assault or even attempted murder rather than mere schoolyard harassment. Why Strong Alkalis Are More Dangerous Than Acids While the dangers of strong acids are widely recognized, medical experts and scientists point out that strong alkalis (bases) often cause far more severe damage to the human body. When a strong acid touches the skin, it causes proteins to coagulate, creating a barrier that can somewhat limit deeper penetration. In contrast, strong alkalis not only decompose and denature proteins but also sap...