My husband wants to know...why do farts smell more in water?

Answer 1

Here is a quoted answer I found online elsewhere:

"H2O, in the form of water vapor, easily attaches to methane molecules by the chlorine atom, or the sulfur released from bacteria, making the foul smell more readily attach to the nostril lining, subsequently sustaining the odor longer than in a dry climate. In addition, warm vapors will cause any crusted mucus to soften and disengage, providing more surface area within the sinuses. And lastly, (if you are male) the qualitive factor of "worse" is a perception of foreign gases - as to our own emissions, the qualitive factor is "better.""

However, I think that answer is crap.

I have never farted in cold water and noticed a worse odor.. I think that the worsened smell is related to not just water but warm water in particular. Farts smell worse both in the bathtub and in the shower. I think the warm water keeps the fart from dispersing as quickly, keeping the smell concentrated so that more of it hits your nose.

I don't know why I can't find any authoritative scientific answer for this though. I mean, surely scientists have farted in the tub...

Answer 2

Well when you have a fart its a one off
and you get 1 smell,
but when you fart in water you get a load of bubbles, and each one bursts separately
so you get more smell, and the definition of
a puff adder is a man who farts in the bath
and counts the bubbles, .