2007-08-29 15:50:51 · 4 answers · asked by allyally14 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Other - Science
Yes and no.
Yes, you can smell the natural gas that comes to your house because a natural gas odorizer has been added to it to enhance leak detection. Most natural gas odorizers are mercaptans which are sulfur compounds, but it is NOT SO2.
No, natural gas when discovered does not have an odor. Most natural gas is primarily methane, but it does have other components and the composition and even the fuel value can change.
Hope that helped!
2007-08-30 09:54:31 · answer #1 · answered by Rush is a band 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Natural gas has no smell. The smell is added to the gas so we can detect a leak when one happens.
2007-08-29 16:00:46 · answer #2 · answered by snakekeeper27 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not pure natural gas. Most natural gas used as fuel has additives to give it a smell so that it is easier to detect a potentially dangerous leak.
2007-08-29 15:55:33 · answer #3 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pure natural gas is methane, which has no odor. Commercial distributors add a small amount of an adulterant (for example, sulfur dioxide) that has a strong odor, to make leaks noticeable.
2007-08-29 16:04:17 · answer #4 · answered by aviophage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋