The Land of No Substance Trivia Quiz

Answer: Water

Water, water everywhere? Not here anyways. Water, while one of the most important substances on Earth, is nowhere to be found in this world. It happens to be one of the most basic compounds-- one oxygen molecule bonded with two hydrogen ions.

Also known as oxidane, we commonly knowthis substance as water or H2O. In gaseous form, water vapour can be seen in the atmosphere or in the form of steam; in liquid, water can be found in rain and can be used for sustenance; in solid form, you have ice.

But no water? That's pretty odd. It's no wonder that no other substances can sustain themselves here.

Answer: Ethanol

Ethanol is what makes our potable substances more potent-- it's alcohol, plain and simple. Characterized by a hydroxide group and two carbon molecules, it's pure booze. You wouldn't want to drink a 100% solution of this.

Ethanol comes from Ethylene, which loses its double bond (between two carbon molecules) to add the hydroxide. It's formed through distillation and fermentation (in some fruits) and finds itself produced not only for drinks, but for industrial work, antibiotics, and fuel.

Heck, what is there to drink around here? Oh yeah-- nothing. No substances.

Answer: Ammonia

Ammonia is a rather dangerous chemical because it's corrosive, poisonous, and hazardous. Perhaps it's best that it's not in this land. Then again, how did it get so spotless?

You know how you can tell there's no ammonia? The place doesn't smell like cleaning products; the nitrogen in the compound gives it a relatively familiar smell though this is usually covered up by more fragrant odours when it's sold to you in pretty bottles. Some ammonia is created by your kidneys but more is manufactured internationally for use in fertilizer to better grow certain crops.

But there's none of it here-- no fertilizer, no ammonia, no cleaning products. Do you still have your kidneys? Hold onto them. You'll need them.

Answer: Acetic Acid

Yum! Acetic acid goes well with fish and chips. Of course, your typical acetic acid is diluted in a lot of water. It's also known as vinegar.

There's none of that to be found around here though. In its purest form, acetic acid is a weak acid but it can still be harmful to organic tissue. Aside from its uses in film and photography, acetic acid is a component of strong glues. Carboxylic acids are characterized by the COOH group-- a carbon double-bonded with oxygen and single bonded to hydroxide.

Without some fish, salt, fries, or lemon, who needs vinegar anyways? If we could get a decent meal around here...

Answer: Benzene

Benzene is an important substance for many people. A hydrocarbon, its chief use is for fuel but it's also used to create polystyrene, resins, plastics, and nylon. Created in a strong, circular shape, the six carbon molecules bond with each other and hydrogen molecules. Unfortunately, it's also dangerous-- aside from being carcinogenic it can be fatal to take in a heavy dose. Like other hydrocarbons, it's aromatic; benzene smells sweet and it's used in gasoline. Would you believe there's benzene in soft drinks as well?

Believe it.

But there's none of that around here. You won't find any benzene in the land of no substance because, after all, there's not too much of anything around here.

Answer: Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium bicarbonate? What's that you ask? Baking soda.

Sodium bicarbonate can be found in fridges, bathrooms, and janitor's closets worldwide and it's quite the important compound. Not having any in this land makes everything just a little dirtier (despite the fact that it's cleaner). Want to make a cake? Well, you won't without baking soda. Need to brush your teeth? You'd better have a fluoride toothpaste; the alternative is baking soda toothpaste. Doing laundry? Sodium bicarbonate is a great fabric softener. This substance is also created in our own bodies to ease up on the acidity in our digestive systems.

But there is none. At least not here.

Answer: Glucose

Although Glyceraldehyde is also a monosaccharide (a simple sugar), it's not the one depicted; we're actually missing Glucose, a sugar required by every person on the planet as a means of energy in the body; the body is able to break down more complex compounds and structures in order to receive glucose and continue working. Plants do the same thing-- they break down the polysaccharide, glycogen (like humans), and starches. While humans do require starch to an extent, it's the main mean of energy storage in a plant.

Glucose, also known as C6H12O6, is primarily known as a sweet substance; you know it better as sugar (though not your typical table sugar-- that'd be sucrose). Glucose can be found in rice, maize, and other starch-filled crops.

If you recall, however, there's none of that around here. We already knew we couldn't bake a cake. This is just overkill.

Answer: Caffeine

Certainly a powerful stimulant, caffeine occurs naturally in plants around the world, especially in coffee. It's not too bad for people in small doses, but people can easily get addicted to their coffee...or soft drinks...or tea. Caffeine can perk you up but a great dependence on it may also make your body restless. It's literally found in the beans of coffee (and chocolate) and goes straight into your brew; stronger coffee (eg. espresso) typically means a higher concentration of caffeine. There is five to eight times more caffeine in an espresso than an energy drink.

Caffeine is a natural compound and is rarely made synthetically. It's more dangerous for bugs than humans too; it kills most bugs that ingest it while humans metabolize it in the liver in under an hour. Like bugs, it may also be fatal to dogs, birds, and other smaller animals.

If there are no bugs, dogs, or birds in the land of no substance, maybe caffeine wiped them out...but who wiped out the caffeine? Also, where can we get a coffee around here? I thought Starbucks had infiltrated every corner of the globe.

Answer: Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of many vitamins we should all be taking in-- if not to prevent scurvy, then to improve body function. It's necessary for your body to produce and/or take in Vitamin C in order to keep metabolism flowing properly. Its scientific name is L-ascorbic acid and its chemical formula is C6H8O6. You can find Vitamin C quite easily in citrus fruits.

Vitamin A is known as Retinol while Vitamin D3, in its many forms, can either be taken as a supplement or obtained from sunlight. Vitamin B2 is the water-soluble Riboflavin and likewise is required by the body for metabolism. Luckily it can be found in a wide array of foods.

Again we face a problem. There's none of that in this land; not even a bottle of multivitamins. Heck, there's not even sunlight. I hope you took your D3 pills back home...and all the other vitamins.

Answer: Trinitrotoluene

Trinitrotoluene is better known by its abbreviation, TNT, and it's quite dangerous. Aside from the...you know...explosive aspect of this substance, it can also cause liver damage with prolonged exposure. Aside from immune system damages, it can also greatly affect water supplies. It's usually used for military operations and weaponry and in demolitions. Unlike Nitroglycerin, it isn't as volatile though at much higher temperatures it will melt and become unstable. It is easier to melt and use than dynamite though; dynamite is a denser material containing nitroglycerin.

But seriously-- did something wipe out all of everything in this land? It's a paradox that we're even here right now. What are we in this place?