We were told:
Here lies Gillian, still and placid;
Who added water to the acid.
Clever Jane did as she oughter;
Added acid to the water.
And the reason for doing this is not simply to do with splashing, per se: If you add
water to
acid, the first drops of water will
react completely and
exothermically with the acid, very likely
boiling it. If, on the other hand you add the
acid to the water, the acid reacts
completely with the water, and
dissipates.