🧪 Inquiry Transcript: Does Solid Slag Have a pH Value?
Legislator Chen Ying and EPA Director Wei Guo-yan engaged in inquiry-level questioning about industrial waste reuse and slag pollution. The contentious point centers on whether solid slag can directly have pH measured.
🚨 Key Inquiry Snippets
Legislator Chen Ying: But we have something even more impressive in Taitung—nuclear waste. So if we follow Director Wei’s logic that all industrial waste should be reused, I suppose we should make atomic bombs from Taitung’s nuclear waste.
EPA Director Wei: Do you want me to respond?
Legislator Chen Ying: No need, no need—that’s just my observation.
Legislator Chen Ying: Let me ask Director Wei—is a substance with pH=12.5 considered a strong alkali, correct?
EPA Director Wei: Yes.
Legislator Chen Ying: Good, then if it’s paved on the ground or as a base layer, and it rains, water infiltrates the soil, flows to rivers, then to the ocean—wouldn’t that cause pollution?
EPA Director Wei: Yes, it would have an impact because of its strong alkalinity, but it depends on the rate of release and dilution volume. (Editorial note: At this point the dialogue was still reasonable.)
Legislator Chen Ying: So basically, if pH is 12.5, it isn’t an ideal material—it’s dangerous and raises pollution concerns.
EPA Director Wei: No, here’s the point: substances like converter slag aren’t in solution state initially, so they must dissolve, become liquid, only then does pH exist in water.
Legislator Chen Ying: But in the process of rainwater washing and soaking, you can’t guarantee there won’t be some…
EPA Director Wei: Some does come out, but rainfall is heavy. For example, the actual impact is really minimal. We’ve done lots of chemistry experiments on this. My hands have been exposed to alkali, I know about this…
Legislator Chen Ying: So, um, Director, no—you’re the expert, so let me ask: this material with pH 12.5—if we pave it…
EPA Director Wei: The material itself isn’t pH. If you’re talking about liquid, yes it’s toxic, but if we’re discussing converter slag, for example, if it’s a solid material, there’s no such thing as pH=12.5.
Legislator Chen Ying: So the material isn’t toxic? So it doesn’t matter?
EPA Director Wei: No, no, no—I want to be clear: if we’re discussing converter slag, which is a solid, there’s no question of “what is its pH value.”
Legislator Chen Ying: Okay, then let me ask the Industrial Bureau. What’s the typical pH value of various types of slag?
Industrial Bureau Chief Wu: That’s not really fixed. Well, for example…
Legislator Chen Ying: Then, um, slag—is slag liquid or solid?
Industrial Bureau Chief Wu: Basically, it’s solid.
Legislator Chen Ying: OK, good, so what’s its pH value—you answer first.
Industrial Bureau Chief Wu: Um, on this point, the director mentioned this, where it actually needs to dissolve. But for converter slag’s characteristics, it’s actually similar to regular limestone.
EPA Director Wei: No, because it’s a solid—how do you measure pH on a solid? We’re tortured by this—we can’t measure this thing, and you’re asking us for a pH value!
Legislator Chen Ying: Wait, Director, Director, Director—why are you so worked up? I wasn’t angry with you!
EPA Director Wei: Yes, I think I’ve explained—it’s a solid, it’s not a solution!
Legislator Chen Ying: Chairman, I didn’t ask that EPA director for a response!
💬 Editor’s Commentary
Alright, Chen Ying, calm down.
Many netizens tried to defend the legislator, criticizing Director Wei online for deliberately not answering the question. But when a student doesn’t understand what the teacher is explaining and won’t listen or ask humbly, how can the teacher continue teaching? Even if teaching continues, it’s pointless because the student still won’t understand!
Poll: Which would make people explode more—an angry but well-organized inquiry, or an eternally sweet but logically circular inquiry?