How It Works

WHAT DOES GAS SMELL LIKE?

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If you have a leak in your central heating system, you’re likely to smell a strong odour. But naturally the gas has no colour or scent. You might compare the smell of leaking gas to eggs or cabbage, and this is due to the addition of a chemical called mercaptan. Gas companies add mercaptan to gas so that you notice a leak before harmful concentrat­ions accumulate that can lead to an explosion. The sulphur that makes up the mercaptan compound gives gas its distinctiv­e smell.

 ?? ?? Mercaptan has the chemical formula CH3SH
Mercaptan has the chemical formula CH3SH

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