What Is the Smelliest Chemical?

Answer 1

There isn't an official stink-o-meter used to gauge the smelliness of a molecule or compound. How bad something smells is a matter of opinion, but most opinions favor the following substances:

Smelliest Molecule

Both of these stinky molecules contain sulfur, which also accounts for the fragrance of rotten eggs and onions. The molecules are detectable at concentrations of ~2 parts per million.

* ethyl mercaptan (C2H5SH)
This man-made molecule is toxic. Inhalation can cause nausea, headaches, lack of coordination, as well as kidney and liver damage. I've smelled this one and personally don't think it's too noxious (skunk is worse). Some people believe it smells like a combination of rotting onion and cabbage, mixed in with a bit of sewer gas.
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I think it smells a bit more like old rancid buttered popcorn. This molecule is very volatile and can be smelled in low concentrations, so it is used as a warning odorant for liquid propane gas.

* butyl seleno-mercaptan (C4H9SeH)
This is a natural molecule, produced by skunks. Skunk spray is bad, but modern science has produced odors that are even more vile.

Smelliest Compound

These man-made compounds are more complex and arguably stinkier than the simpler molecules. They also have catchy names.

* "Who-Me?"
Five ingredients are used to make this sulfur-based chemical, which smells of rotting carcasses. "Who-Me?" was developed during World War II so that French resistance fighters could humiliate German soldiers by making them stink. In practice, it was very difficult to restrict the application of the chemical to the intended target.

* "US Government Standard Bathroom Malodor"
American chemists developed this combination of eight molecules, said to emit a stench resembling that of human feces, to test the effectiveness of air fresheners and deodorizers..

Answer 2

According to the Guinness book of world records Ethanethiol is the most smelliest substance in the world.

Ethanethiol is the organic compound with the formula CH3CH2SH. It consists of an ethyl group, CH3CH2, abbreviated Et, attached to a thiol group, SH, and the entire molecule is often abbreviated EtSH. The compound is structurally similar to ethanol by replacement of O by S.

Ethanethiol has strongly disagreeable odour that humans can detect in minute concentrations. The threshold for human detection is as low as one part in 2.8 billion parts of air. Its odour resembles that of leeks. Ethanethiol is intentionally added to butane and propane (see: LPG) to impart an easily noticed smell to these odourless fuels, that otherwise pose the threat of asphyxiation.

According to the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book Of World Records, ethanethiol is the "smelliest substance" in existence. Other more specialized chemicals were probably not examined, however. Most volatile thiols are comparably offensive. Thiols can be oxidized, and thus de-odourized, using bleach or related oxidants.

Answer 3

There isn't an official stink-o-meter used to gauge the smelliness of a molecule or compound. How bad something smells is a matter of opinion, but most opinions favor the following substances:

Smelliest Molecule

Both of these stinky molecules contain sulfur, which also accounts for the fragrance of rotten eggs and onions. The molecules are detectable at concentrations of ~2 parts per million.

* ethyl mercaptan (C2H5SH)
This man-made molecule is toxic. Inhalation can cause nausea, headaches, lack of coordination, as well as kidney and liver damage. I've smelled this one and personally don't think it's too noxious (skunk is worse). Some people believe it smells like a combination of rotting onion and cabbage, mixed in with a bit of sewer gas.

* I think it smells a bit more like old rancid buttered popcorn. This molecule is very volatile and can be smelled in low concentrations, so it is used as a warning odorant for liquid propane gas.

* butyl seleno-mercaptan (C4H9SeH)
This is a natural molecule, produced by skunks. Skunk spray is bad, but modern science has produced odors that are even more vile.

Smelliest Compound

These man-made compounds are more complex and arguably stinkier than the simpler molecules. They also have catchy names.

* "Who-Me?"
Five ingredients are used to make this sulfur-based chemical, which smells of rotting carcasses. "Who-Me?" was developed during World War II so that French resistance fighters could humiliate German soldiers by making them stink. In practice, it was very difficult to restrict the application of the chemical to the intended target.

* "US Government Standard Bathroom Malodor"
American chemists developed this combination of eight molecules, said to emit a stench resembling that of human feces, to test the effectiveness of air fresheners and deodorizers.

Answer 4

I happen to be in the non-enviable position of doing my doctoral research on synthesizing macrocyclic thioethers (sulfur containing ring compounds). Without a doubt, 1,2-ethanedithiol (SH-CH2CH2-SH) is the worst thing I've ever smelled. One drop spilled outside of a hood is enough to make a person violently gag. Really nasty stuff. A common misconception is that elemental sulfur smells, but it is essentially odorless (with a hint of smelling like a lit match). Thiol groups, on the other hand, are not something you would want to take a big whiff of if you value your olfactory nerve.

Answer 5

usually thiols (aka mercaptans) and amines are some of the worst.

skunks possess a variety of chemicals that stink including n butyl mercaptan

The odor of rotten fish is diethylamine (along with other amines). Rotten flesh contains putrescene and cadavarine. both are amines.

Stinky enough for you?

Answer 6

Vinegar is often an selection. Ammonia is merely too as lengthy because it is not too centred. in case you ought to purchase some butyric acid this is rather pungent and non-poisonous as lengthy as you do no longer use too lots. this is what provides the terrible scent to rancid butter hence the call.

Answer 7

Sulphur compounds like Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) - worse than rotten eggs.

Answer 8

Well I think it is H2S,hydrogen disulphide...ew! it smells like Rotten egg...it also the characteristic smell for the indentification of sulphur.

Answer 9

Amonia

Answer 10

Although we have no means to measure degree of smell, H2S gas smells a lot.