Hollywood Acid: Difference between revisions

This stuff will never be referred to as anything other than "acid," unless it's given some [[Techno Babble|highly scientific]] name at its introduction, after which it will simply be called "acid." Expect it to show up at least once in any work involving a [[Mad Scientist]]. If this stuff is ever spilled on a person or other living creature, say hello to the [[Nightmare Fuel]].

 

 

{{examples}}

* In ''[[Gremlins]]'' 2, there is a bit with a beaker of acid labeled "Acid: Do Not Throw In Face". One gremlin throws it in the face of another, who then assumes a ''[[Phantom of the Opera]]'' mask and cape.

* The goop that Jack Napier falls into in Tim Burton's ''[[Batman]]'' is puke-green and has the consistency of a milkshake. Its later described as "acid". Later in the same film, the Joker's trick flower squirts acid strong enough to eat through thick metal in seconds (when he sprays it on the bolts holding up the church bell).

* The DIP in ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]'' pretty much acts like [[Hollywood Acid]], though it only works on Toons. It's essentially made of the solution used to clean cels (which is to say, it's a blend of powerful paint thinners), but it still is colored green and is constantly steaming.

** Slightly justified. The mix of paint-thinners may very well have a green appearance, and it's not unreasonable to have it heated by the motion and such. More pain for the toon, and less viscosity.

** The fact that one of her husbands eye balls was in the soap and still moving and looking at her as she died may indicate that there was an element of the supernatural to the soap.

* The live action ''[[Batman]]'' had an inspired variant in a Riddler story when the villain gets a special wax. It is the perfect safe-cracking tool: a powerful corrosive that is potent enough that a pocketful of the stuff will quickly and silently penetrate thick steel doors or concrete walls in minutes and yet is perfectly safe to handle until you expose it to direct flame. In fact, you'd almost wonder why Riddler didn't [[Cut Lex Luthor a Check|make a bundle simply auctioning the stuff to other criminals]].

* Clark Kent, in the 1950’s ''Superman'' series, was lowered into an enormous vat of acid by chortling villains, who then walked out to arrange their next evil deed. Naturally, Superman then emerged, his costume soaked, but unharmed. Presumably, Kent’s glasses and clothes were dissolved.

* The Columbo episode ''Mind Over Mayhem'' features a killer who disposes of certain key bits of evidence- a wallet, file folder with papers, and a metal can containing heroin- in a vat labeled "contaminated acid". It looks like water until the items drop in and starts to boil.

** Also, it's poisonous, when it reaches the blood stream and it doesn't become less corrosive nearly as fast as other acids when diluted.

* The term [[Exactly What It Says On the Tin|Super Acid]] is used for any material that is more acidic than 100% pure sulphuric acid. Some particularly corrosive chemicals can protonate and dissolve hydrocarbons, something that does not occur in a normal acid environment for example.

{{quote| "It is, of course, extremely toxic, but that's the least of the problem. It is hypergolic with every known fuel, and so rapidly hypergolic that no ignition delay has ever been measured. It is also hypergolic with such things as cloth, wood, and [[Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick|test engineers]], not to mention asbestos, sand, and water — with which it reacts explosively. It can be kept in some of the ordinary structural metals — steel, copper, aluminium, etc. — because of the formation of a thin film of insoluble metal fluoride which protects the bulk of the metal, just as the invisible coat of oxide on aluminium keeps it from burning up in the atmosphere. If, however, this coat is melted or scrubbed off, and has no chance to reform, the operator is confronted with the problem of coping with a metal-fluorine fire. For dealing with this situation, I have always recommended [[Screw This, I'm Outta Here|a good pair of running shoes.]]"--John D. Clark, Rocket Scientist. As quoted [http://pipeline.corante.com/archives/2008/02/26/sand_wont_save_you_this_time.php here.] }}

 

[[Category:Hollywood Style]]

[[Category:Hollywood Acid]]