MCQ Detailed View

Ethyl Mercaptan, also known as ethanethiol (C₂H₅SH), is a chemical compound that contains sulfur. It is commonly added to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) to provide a detectable odor. Pure LPG is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect leaks. The addition of ethyl mercaptan allows for easy detection of gas leaks, improving safety.

Chemically, ethyl mercaptan belongs to a class of compounds called thiols or mercaptans, which are organic compounds containing a sulfur-hydrogen (-SH) group. This sulfur group is responsible for its strong, unpleasant odor, even at very low concentrations. Bromine, fluorine, and chlorine are halogens and are not present in ethyl mercaptan, making sulfur the correct element in this compound.

Ethyl mercaptan is widely used in safety applications beyond LPG, including in natural gas and industrial gas leak detection. It is effective because the human nose is highly sensitive to sulfur compounds. Even a few parts per million of ethyl mercaptan can be detected, allowing quick response to prevent accidents.

In addition to its safety role, understanding ethyl mercaptan is important in organic chemistry because it demonstrates the properties of functional groups. Thiols exhibit characteristic reactions, such as oxidation to disulfides and formation of metal complexes. Studying these reactions helps students understand the behavior of sulfur-containing organic compounds.

Overall, ethyl mercaptan is a practical example of how organic chemistry and inorganic elements, such as sulfur, are applied in everyday life, especially in household safety. It illustrates the chemical principles behind odorants and the use of functional groups in real-world applications.