Why "gas" smells?

Question

Why is it that scientists added a smell to gas (gas energy) so that it can be detected by the human nose, but have not done the same with carbon minoxide?
It kills tons of people every year you would think they would do the same so that being "really sleepy and then dying" wasnt the only warning of a minoxide leak...

is there a reason for this?

Answer 1

They make some gases to sell (propane, other fuels, etc.) so they can control what goes into the gases.
They're manufactured products, so they can put things in for safety reasons.
But they don't make carbon monoxide to put in tanks to sell.
Carbon monoxide is produced by cars, faulty home furnaces, and all kinds of industrial plants - people don't "make" the CO so they can't put the smell in it.

Answer 2

The smell added to natural gas is intentional so that leaks can be detected by everyone easily. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide are caused by faulty equipment or by trapping the exhaust from a car located in an attached garage. Everyone should have a working carbon monoxide detector to prevent CO poisoning.

Answer 3

Natural gas is a controlled product that is delivered through a pipeline by a supplier who adds the scent to aid in detection of leaks. Most carbon monoxide is produced by defective equipment such as fumes from furnaces caused by leaking or cracked venting, and this is not the same situation as a manufactured product produced under controlled conditions.

Answer 4

A gas 'Odoriser' is used because, in the process of manufacturing gas, the sulphur compounds (that normally give gas its characteristic smell), are removed to protect equipment from corrosion. (Sulphur compounds form corrosive acids).
For safety reasons, before distributing the gas to users, an 'Odor' is put back into the gas to make it noticable when a leak occurs, and the supply to the home etc, can be cut off while the leak is found and repaired.
CO on the other hand, is the product of combustion and its not possible to make it 'smellable'.

(If you happen to be talking about body gas then the most offensive intestinal gases usually contain sulfur compounds from sulfur-rich foods, such as cauliflower, eggs and meat. ).

Answer 5

First, the compound you mention is carbon MONOXIDE. You can add a odorous compound to natural gas because the natural gas is a product that is metered. The CO that causes the problems you describe comes from processes that are not dispensed by pipelines, such as leaks from cars, improper burning, and the like.

Answer 6

Well, Since CO is colorless and odorless, they put it in here because they can control the gas to and from your house. If your heater fails and releases CO, they can't add a smell. It is impossible. It is a incomplete combustion reaction. They can not control what is being combusted. For example: You can adjust the amount of heat released by your oven to your system(what you want). But you can not control the amount of heat that comes
from the sun. Forget about blocking and shade. You can control heat from a stove, but not from the sun. Same thing with gas. They can manipulate it because they provide it. But when something goes wrong with your heater, they can not adjust that because it is a reaction happening by itself. Get it?
:)

Answer 7

since CO is a byproduct of combustion, they would have to add something that would be left over from combustion that would chemically react with CO to give off an odor. what you propose is a good idea. i wonder if it can be done. great thinking. btw, it is carbon monoxide which means there is one atom of carbon and one(mono) of oxygen. you can buy CO alarms pretty cheaply. u should make sure you have a couple in your house if you have gas furnace or water heater. in fact if you dont, it would be a great fathers day gift to show dad how much you love him.

Answer 8

sure! Carbon monoxide is a byproduct of combustion. We pipe natural gas into our houses, so the smell can be added. There is nowhere to "add" the smell to CO

Answer 9

The reason why scientists add an odor to natural gas when they produce it and don't add it to carbon monoxide is simple.

"Natural Gas" that is used in chemistry class or to burn in homes for heat is produced in a factory or refinery.
Carbon monoxide that causes poisoning isn't made in a factory or refinery, its made naturally by a burning fireplace. You can't add an odor to something you don't make in the first place.

Answer 10

You Smell Like Fish and taste like Chicken