• @beckerist
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    4011 months ago

    I was looking for information on how it smells and I’m only finding pages that say it smells terrible. Even the Wikipedia only mentions “Due to its diminished vapor pressure, its odor, while unpleasant, is less objectionable than related thiols”

    I’m still curious what it smells like though…

    • RuBisCO
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      11 months ago

      Rotten fish/eggs, skunky, very strong, and it lingers. Even the smallest amount will clear a room.

      Found this.

      And this.

      • @beckerist
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        2411 months ago

        I’d seen that first link already but the second link got it, thank you! For those that don’t want to click:

        beta-Mercaptoethanol: rather similar to ethanethiol, but the extra OH group gives it some real staying power. Sort of the “sun and sport” version of the parent compound.

        and

        Ethanethiol: the prototype of the class. All the basic sulfur-stink notes - skunky and intestinal. Very volatile, too, which really gives it a quick wallop, but at least it doesn’t stay around forever.

      • @[email protected]
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        411 months ago

        Can confirm. I use it under the chemical hood with gloves on, and even if I use just a few microliters I can still smell it on my fingers hours later