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Pure natural gas is colourless and odourless. This means if there is a leak people will not be able to detect it until it builds up enough to become explosive.

For this reason a chemical called Mercaptan is added to the gas to make is smell. Mercaptan is harmless, non-toxic and has a strong "rotten egg" smell.

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butyl mercaptan

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Sulfur

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Q: What is added to natural gas to give it an odor?
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When was odor added to natural gas?

It was started in the United States in 1937 after a school explosion in New London, Texas caused by a natural gas/air mixture due. Texas started adding odor to natural gas, and it eventually was done across the world.


What does natural gas smell like?

Natural gas has no odour, therefore you can't smell it. A product that goes by the trade name of Mercaptin is added to natural gas to give it an odour so you can get a warning of a leak by smell.


Does natural gas has its own natural smell?

Actually no. Natural gas does not have a smell at all. A smell is added to it when its used for stoves and such.True Natural Gas does not have an odor, before or after combustion. The most common type of natural gas used is propane, in which they mix an additive to give it its tale-tell odor.yesPure natural gas (methane, CH4) is completely odorless. However, for domestic use, odorants are often added so that it is easier to detect a gas leak in your house. I'm not sure if the natural gas that comes out of the ground is pure or not, however, and there may be traces of other gases that do have a smell. The natural gas itself does not. However sour gas contains hydogen sulfide known as H2s and smells like rotten eggs. It is heavier than air and collects is low areas, which you smell when going through an oil field. A heavy dose can be deadly.


Why ethyl mercarptan is added to cooking gas?

It's commonly added to otherwise odorless gaseous products purely in order to give them an odor, and thereby render them more easily detectable in case of leaks.


What is the odor of urea when added to soda lime and heated?

what is the odor of urea and soda lime when mixed by nitrogen?

Related questions

When was odor added to natural gas?

It was started in the United States in 1937 after a school explosion in New London, Texas caused by a natural gas/air mixture due. Texas started adding odor to natural gas, and it eventually was done across the world.


Was rotten egg odor added to natural gas in Texas so inspectors could find gas leaks in lines by watching vulchers?

No! The rotten egg odor you smell is probably sulfur gas.


What does a gas leak smell like?

A leak of piped natural gas will smell something like rotten eggs because a mercaptan (a sulfur containing compound with a distinctive penetrating odor) is added to the gas before distribution. Natural gas as removed directly from the ground has no odor.


Why is a specific smell is added to natural gas before it is supplied to the consumer?

So the consumer can see if there is a gas leak. Gas normally has no odor and it thus undetectable.


Is an odor a gas?

No. But some gasses have odors. Natural gas doesn't have an odor but sulfur is added so it can be smelled. Otherwise a leak could go undetected and cause the death of someone living in a house.


What is the soluvent in natural gas?

There is no 'solvent' in pure natural gas. Pure natural gas is methane (colorless and odorless). The natural gas used in stoves has methylmercaptan mixed with the methane to give the gas an odor to help detect leaks. In this case the methane is the solvent and methylmecaptan is the solute.


Sewer gas smell?

Methane, hydrogen Sulfide and many other highly carcinogenic fumes are found in the sewers


Why is a smell added to a natural gas?

Smell is added to natural Gas because it is odourless, tasteless and invisible. Mercapton is added to natural gas so the user is aware when it is present. ie when you have a gas leak.


What does natural gas smell like?

Natural gas has no odour, therefore you can't smell it. A product that goes by the trade name of Mercaptin is added to natural gas to give it an odour so you can get a warning of a leak by smell.


What is the scent given to natural gas to help detect leaks?

odor


How can you control the odor of ethyl mercaptan that has been added to propane and butane?

The mercaptan odor has been added specifically to assist in the detection of leaks. If odor from the gas is noticed, the implication is that you have a leak. Attend to it promptly.


Does natural gas has its own natural smell?

Actually no. Natural gas does not have a smell at all. A smell is added to it when its used for stoves and such.True Natural Gas does not have an odor, before or after combustion. The most common type of natural gas used is propane, in which they mix an additive to give it its tale-tell odor.yesPure natural gas (methane, CH4) is completely odorless. However, for domestic use, odorants are often added so that it is easier to detect a gas leak in your house. I'm not sure if the natural gas that comes out of the ground is pure or not, however, and there may be traces of other gases that do have a smell. The natural gas itself does not. However sour gas contains hydogen sulfide known as H2s and smells like rotten eggs. It is heavier than air and collects is low areas, which you smell when going through an oil field. A heavy dose can be deadly.