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If pure water does not conduct electricity then how come pure water can kill you?

I I'm a Sophmore at Hayfield Secondary School and I have an AP Chemistry paper to write about pure water. The main question is "If pure water does not conduct electricity then how come pure water can kill you?" My chemistry teacher never said anything EVER in the class about pure water. PLEASE HELP!

Laura W
Student - Alexandria, VA United States
February 16, 2008

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Whether it's your fault or your teacher's fault, one of you has to learn how to express yourself more clearly, Laura. I don't even understand your question. Pure water can kill you if you drown in it. It can kill you if you drink far too much of it when you are badly dehydrated. But I would say that if you have water that does not conduct electricity it cannot electrocute you; to say that it can would be a direct contradiction. Please try to phrase your question better. Thanks.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
February 21, 2008

You must have meant consuming ultra pure water used for growing crystal in which contaminants are polished continuously. Water cannot remain in ultra pure stage except for a very short period. On consumption it will trigger aggressive action to acquire impurity from the body and consequently may pose a mortal danger to the consumer.

N.G. KRISHNAN
- Bnagalore, Karnataka, India
March 27, 2008

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It is not recommended that people drink "pure water" as it is an excellent solvent. By "pure" I mean the quality one would normally get from RO or triple distilled water. The issue is based on osmosis, the pure water can dissolve the salts from your teeth and gut, thereby depleting the body of essential materials.

Pure water is a good insulator and does not conduct electricity, but I wouldn't recommend you tried it at home!

Whether it would kill you is debatable, but it certainly won't do you much good. The best way that water kills you is if you drown in it, but then it won't be pure, because it will have some body in it!

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
March 30, 2008

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Dear student,
water it can kill you, when it is pure -- that meaning free of salts & minerals like K,Na,Ca, Mg, ...itd
human body need minerals any decrease of mineral below the range that meaning it will be ill & died .

Hani Dgaimat
Amman, Jordan
April 14, 2008