I smell gas! Which gas?

lothruin

Probably ethyl mercaptin. Oct 13 03, 7:23 PM

sequoianoir

Nope ! And for those that do not know. Ethyl mercaptan is a colourless organic liquid, C2H5SH, that has a strong odour and is added to odourless fuel and fuel systems as a warning agent. Oct 13 03, 7:29 PM

gmackematix

Hydrogen sulphide? Ammonia? Or are we still on the domestic gas leak track? Oct 13 03, 8:22 PM

MotherGoose

Your question is a little vague because many gases smell. Is methane the one you are thinking of? Oct 13 03, 9:15 PM

gmackematix

Methane is odourless. This is why the aforementioned mercaptans are added. Are you asking about rectal flatus? If you are, American flatologists have found that 99% of a fart is made of five gases: nitrogen, oxygen, CO2, hydrogen and methane, all of which are completely odourless. Much of that is expelled air and hydrogen from the fermentation of legumes (such as beans) by colonic bacteria, which also produce methane. Interestingly, only a third of people produce methane and this is a genetic trait. It is thought that trace quantities of volatiles such as skatole and hydrogen sulphide may be responsible for the smell but nobody is entirely sure. Oct 13 03, 10:21 PM

shady shaker

What have you been eating? Oct 13 03, 11:49 PM

SOTHC

Have you sprung a leak DB? http://www.sequoiagas.com/ Oct 14 03, 2:51 AM

mibmob

Hydrogen sulphide - someone has let off a stink bomb. Oct 14 03, 5:05 AM

harish_256

Not carbon monoxide, for sure. Oct 14 03, 5:11 AM

sequoianoir

Like the GREAT link SOTHC !!! No none of those. I've already told you, I SMELL GAS ! Oct 14 03, 6:59 AM

mibmob

Could be nitrous oxide as you are laughing at us! Oct 14 03, 7:17 AM

SOTHC

I keep cats. Everybody needs a hobby. Is it ozone? In what state are you in DB? From a Dream Dictionary - To smell or see gas in your dream indicates that your need to be reenergized. Dreaming that you run out of gas, suggests that you are wearing yourself out. Take a time out. Oct 14 03, 7:34 AM

sequoianoir

Explain your last reply SOTHC. Oct 14 03, 7:43 AM

SOTHC

Not much to explain really. I used to collect stamps but now we have two Maine Coon kittens that take up most of our spare time. Do you mean explain ozone? It can be an unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen, O3, that is formed naturally in the ozone layer from atmospheric oxygen by electric discharge or exposure to ultraviolet radiation, also produced in the lower atmosphere by the photochemical reaction of certain pollutants. It is a highly reactive oxidizing agent used to deodorize air, purify water, and treat industrial wastes. Or informally it is fresh, pure air. Oct 14 03, 7:53 AM

sequoianoir

Yes I did mean the gas. OZONE is the correct answer but why? You don't think I expected guesses from everyone until it was mentioned? Now where is the "fun" or TRIVIA in that ? Oct 14 03, 8:01 AM

Senior Moments

Ozone was first discovered in the 1840's and is nature's natural purifier. It is a chemical known as Oł and is produced, in nature, from lightning bolts during electrical storms (it's clean, fresh scent is often noticed after a heavy rain) and by ultra violet rays from the sun. When these rays enter earth's atmosphere, the oxygen in the upper atmosphere is converted into ozone. This is how earth's ozone layer is created. The special ultra violet rays of the sun are simply duplicated using special ultra violet lamps. When air is passed by these lamps, the oxygen is converted into ozone. Ozone is a form of oxygen also known as "active oxygen". It is a natural purifier, created by combining three oxygen atoms and is a strong cleaning, purification and oxidizing agent. As it reacts with organics it oxidizes unpleasant odors, kills germs, bacteria and viruses. Ozone does not leave contaminants in the water that smell, look or taste bad nor does ozone leave potentially hazardous by-products such as chloramines that can irritate your eyes, dry out your skin, fade swimwear, and damage pool and spa or water storage equipment. In fact, unused ozone reverts back to life-giving oxygen. By combining the ultraviolet rays from the sun with the air we breathe, ozone is naturally generated. http://www.rhtubs.com/o3faq.htm [Added reference link - McG] Oct 14 03, 8:29 AM

SOTHC

Get to the clinic immediately and have a sperm count. According to: http://www.npca.org/across_the_nation/visitor_experience/code_red/fact_sheets/sequoia.asp studies of sequoias reveal that ozone harms sequoia seedlings. Oct 14 03, 8:34 AM

sequoianoir

SM , a gimbotic attempt to steal SOTHC's thunder (lol) Very interesting and true, but that still is not trivial enough and fails to answer the point that "nobody had to guess this gas" I TOLD you, I SMELL GAS ! Oct 14 03, 8:35 AM

SOTHC

What does 'Which gas?' mean in the question then? Oct 14 03, 8:45 AM

sequoianoir

SOTHC, another fantastic bit of research. That explains the irritation in my genes!!! Which gas? Was the question. OZONE. Is the answer. WHY? Yet to be answered! AND, This was NOT a GUESSING GAME! Oct 14 03, 8:50 AM

Senior Moments

A valid point. You made a statement DB and then asked for the name of the gas and is moaning that we have not answered the question. The lead lining in my baseball cap does not allow me to mind read so if you wanted additional info, you should have asked for it in the normal way. You are smelling your own ozone DB. According to: http://www.scienceblog.com/community/article1122.html In what is a first for biology, a team of investigators is reporting that the human body makes ozone. The team has been slowly gathering evidence over the last few years that the human body produces the reactive gas -- most famous as the ultraviolet ray-absorbing component of the ozone layer -- as part of a mechanism to protect it from bacteria and fungi. "Ozone was a big surprise," says researcher Bernard Babior. "But it seems that biological systems manufacture ozone, and that ozone has an effect on those biological systems." Oct 14 03, 8:51 AM

sequoianoir

Yet another fantastic answer, although not what I was looking for (which is "very simple"). When you know the answer you will understand why. Re the last answer, whilst quite specific, the human body generates other smelly gases so the answer from this "idea" would still be a choice. To be honest most of this is Greek to me! Oct 14 03, 9:15 AM

Senior Moments

Ozone derives from the Greek word ozein which means to smell. It was first discovered in 1839 by Christian Friedrick Schonbein who noticed it because of its distinctive acrid smell. http://www.azete.com/preview/43885 [Added reference link - McG] Oct 14 03, 10:04 AM

sequoianoir

YAY! yo! YO! Yay! yay! Yo! Yes, ozone comes from ozo which means "I smell." I told you, I told you! I understand the misinterpretation of the statement, which of course was intentional. If I'd said "Green gas! Which gas?" or "Lightest gas! Which gas?" there would not have been any confusion. When I put "I smell" I did not mean I (me) could detect an aroma but using it as the "label". It IS afterall the "I SMELL" gas! Oct 14 03, 12:12 PM

gmackematix

Nice one. I feel very ashamed to have been fooled by something so simple. All those cryptic crosswords and I don't recognise a cryptic clue when I see one! I must admit, I thought you had flipped when I first read this question. Oct 14 03, 7:51 PM

sequoianoir

Thanks gmack, I really liked this one also. I thought it was rather "cute" Also probably the shortest question ever posed. Editor's note: Also see Question #94692 http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question94692.html Oct 14 03, 7:55 PM

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