<P> The dihydrogen monoxide hoax involves calling water by the unfamiliar chemical name "dihydrogen monoxide" (DHMO), and listing some of water's effects in a particularly alarming manner, such as accelerating corrosion and causing suffocation . The hoax often calls for dihydrogen monoxide to be banned, regulated, and labeled as hazardous . It illustrates how a lack of scientific literacy and an exaggerated analysis can lead to misplaced fears . </P> <P> The hoax gained renewed popularity in the late 1990s when a 14 - year - old student, Nathan Zohner, collected anti-DHMO petitions for a science project about gullibility . The story has since been used in science education to encourage critical thinking and discussion of the scientific method . </P>

What is the common name of dihydrogen monoxide