Question

Why is ethyl mercaptan added to liquid petroleum gas?

Answer 1

Ethyl Mercaptan is known as Stench Gas which is added to liquefied petroleum gas so that it can be smelt easily if leaked. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is odorless gas which is filled in gas cylinders and is used in many industries as fuel. To sense its leakage ethyl mercaptan is added to it which imparts it a strong smell that can easily be detected.

Complete answer:
Ethyl mercaptan has a smell like rotten egg which is quite easy to sense if the gas is getting leaked somewhere. It is a chemical which is just added to LPG for the safety purpose. It helps in quick recognition of the gas to provide any severe accidents. The production of ethyl mercaptan includes the reaction of sodium ethyl sulfate with potassium hydrosulfide. It is also known as Ethanethiol. Its structure is similar to that of ethanol but sulfur is present in place of oxygen. It has a very strong odor which can be easily detected by humans even in minute concentration. It is also known as the Smell of Safety.

Additional Information:
Ethyl mercaptan is less dense than water. It has a strong garlic or rotten egg smell. Its vapors can cause irritation in the nose and throat. It is a low boiling liquid with boiling point of about $97{}^\circ F$. Its molecular formula is ${{C}_{2}}{{H}_{5}}SH$ with a molecular weight of about $62\cdot 14$g per mole. It can cause nausea, vomiting, headache and tiredness. The strong odor of mercaptan can be gotten ridden of only by oxidation. It is colorless and flammable volatile liquid.

Note: Ethyl mercaptan is used as a warning agent. Its stinking smell warns of the leakage of gas to avoid accidents. It is also used in the manufacture of insecticides, pesticides, resins and other chemicals. Ethyl mercaptan can be stored in metal containers which should be grounded properly while transferring. It should be disposed of as a hazardous waste.