Ethanethiol



Ethanethiol
IUPAC name Ethanethiol
Other names Ethyl mercaptan
Identifiers
CAS number 75-08-1
RTECS number KI9625000
SMILES CCS
Properties
Molecular formula C2H6S
Molar mass 62.13404 g·mol−1
Density 0.8617 g·cm−3
Melting point

-148 °C

Boiling point

35 °C

Hazards
Main hazards Nauseating
R-phrases 11-20-50/53
S-phrases 16-25-60-61
Related Compounds
Related compounds thiophenol
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Ethanethiol is the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to warn of a gas leak. At these concentrations, ethanethiol is not harmful.

Odour

Ethanethiol has a strongly disagreeable odour that humans can detect in minute concentrations. The threshold for human detection is as low as one part in 2.8 billion parts of air. Its odour resembles that of leeks or onions. Ethanethiol is intentionally added to LPG) to impart an easily noticed smell to these odourless fuels, that otherwise pose the threat of fire and explosion.

According to the 2000 edition of the Guinness Book Of World Records, ethanethiol is the "smelliest substance" in existence. Other more specialized chemicals were probably not examined, however. Most volatile thiols are comparably offensive. Thiols can be oxidized, and thus de-odourized, using bleach or related oxidants.

Reactions

Main article: Thiol

Ethanethiol is a valued reagent in sodium hydride.[1]

Oxidation of EtSH gives the disulfide, diethyl disulfide:

2 EtSH + H2O2 → EtS-SEt + 2 H2O

Like other thiols, it behaves comparably to hydrogen sulfide. For example, it binds, concomitant with deprotonation to "soft" transition metal cations, such a Hg2+, Cu+, and Ni2+ to give polymeric thiolato complexes, Hg(SEt)2, CuSEt, and Ni(SEt)2, respectively.

References

  • Merck Index, 12th edition, 3771
  1. ^ Mirrington, R. N.; Feutrill, G. I. (1988). "Orcinol Monomethyl Ether". Org. Synth.; Coll. Vol. 6: 859. 
 
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