Officially a stink-o-meter does not exist, but most people would choose one of the following substances containing sulfur as foulest smelling chemical: ethyl mercaptan (C2H5SH) or butyl seleno-mercaptan (C4H9SeH).
The first one is a thiol which smells like rotten onions and cabbage and like it has been drenched in sewer gasses. Therefore it should not be a surprise that this man-made molecule is easily and rapidly recognised and causes headaches, nausea and several damages to vital organs when inhaled.
The second one is produced by skunks and has a scent so penetrating that it is listed as the smelliest natural product in existence in the Guinness Book of World Records, smelling of rotten eggs, garlic and burnt rubber. If that is not bad enough, the spray can cause irritation and in some cases temporary blindness and can be detected by a human nose up to a mile downwind.
If you know of a molecule that smells even worse, you should check it out and let me know what is so stinky about it!
The first one is a thiol which smells like rotten onions and cabbage and like it has been drenched in sewer gasses. Therefore it should not be a surprise that this man-made molecule is easily and rapidly recognised and causes headaches, nausea and several damages to vital organs when inhaled.
The second one is produced by skunks and has a scent so penetrating that it is listed as the smelliest natural product in existence in the Guinness Book of World Records, smelling of rotten eggs, garlic and burnt rubber. If that is not bad enough, the spray can cause irritation and in some cases temporary blindness and can be detected by a human nose up to a mile downwind.
If you know of a molecule that smells even worse, you should check it out and let me know what is so stinky about it!
Michel De Keersmaecker
2 opmerkingen:
Hey Michel
What can I say? I found it a very good blog. When we work in the lab, it's better to know whether a certain product is going to smell or not. The picture is quite funny and I think that the structure of your blog is very good.
I have only a few remarks. In the first sentence, I would place a comma after the word Officially. In the same sentence, you claime that "stink-o-meter" is not an official term, but Google seems to give me a lot of respons to this term, so maybe this could be an official term.
In the third sentence, you write 'several damages to vital organs', I would change this into 'damage to several vital organs'.
In the fourth sentence, you write 'smelling of', perhaps it would be better to write 'smelling like' instead.
In general, I really liked reading this blog. I think you did a very good job by writing it, since the information might be very useful. Unfortunately, I do not know of a product which could smell as much as the 2 products you mentioned.
Mike De Vrieze
Michel and Mike,
I agree with Mike: the comma after officially, damage (uncountable and consequently, no plural).
smelling of; is ok
Mike, excellent feedback, just mind the spelling of 'claim'
good job, the both of you
olaf
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