2006-09-23 10:50:34 · 10 answers · asked by tjcsonofallnations 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
hmmm... why does any chemical reaction smell?
What you smell is the chemical by products created during decomposition. When you eat a peice of food and it travels throughout your entire system and comes out the other end thing dont smell so good.
That's what's happening on the corpse. The microorganisms eating the animal leave waste that smells. And that's not all. The lipids go rancid too. (im not sure of the reactions... we havent gotten that far yet)
2006-09-23 19:13:31 · answer #1 · answered by the_quetzal 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The other answers talk about the chemical compounds released by the decaying flesh - but the other part of the question is why have we evolved to be so sensitive to these compounds, and why do we interpret them as being so disgusting. My hypothesis is that the we react like we do to these chemicals in order to avoid exposing ourselves to the bacteria that decompose flesh. If we didn't react that way, we might try to eat the rotten meat, and we would become sick from the bacteria. It's probably a survival mechanism.
2006-09-23 19:33:12 · answer #2 · answered by WildOtter 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Becuz there is no life left in them. They are rotting. My dog rolled all over a dead animal, then got bit by a rattlesnake. We felt so bad and were so embarrassed by the smell on him...at the vet. They were so good to him, but shewww, he stunk sooo bad!
2006-09-23 18:00:14 · answer #3 · answered by ~~ 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The foul smell is caused by amoniac vapors and sulphure based compounds emanated by bacteria on the corpse.
2006-09-23 19:21:02 · answer #4 · answered by Akasha 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because of the breakdown of both the organic and inorganic compounds that make up the body tissues. Usually these foul smelling by-products are released by microbes in the process of trying to derive energy for their on physiological development.
2006-09-23 18:52:55 · answer #5 · answered by James O 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is actually a chemical produced by rotting corpses called "cadaverine". Go the Website below to see a GIF of its structure
2006-09-23 18:51:01 · answer #6 · answered by Zelda Hunter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because, all of the flesh rots and actually what creates the smell is cold, dead blood. the blood stays in there and the magets and flies and buzzards eat it up, and that adds to some of the smell, open organs. (sorry for the 'detailed' answer, but its true)
2006-09-23 17:55:27 · answer #7 · answered by Zachery P 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because of the bacteria and other biotics feeding on the rot and the gases they release.
2006-09-23 19:28:53 · answer #8 · answered by AFUNK 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Bacterial breakdown of organic compounds, sulfides, valerates etc
2006-09-23 17:56:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
because they don't use a perfume before they dye ; :))
2006-09-23 19:25:47 · answer #10 · answered by MARIUS M 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋