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Author: Subject: Best and worst smelling chemicals?
DJF90
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[*] posted on 18-8-2013 at 13:13


Benzyl mercaptan. Absolutely aweful. Doing a Parikh Doering oxidation on 1.4 kg material was interesting too. Close to 300g Me2S generated as byproduct...
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Plutonium239
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[*] posted on 2-9-2013 at 19:29


Of the chemicals I've used in my "lab," the best-smelling one is probably acetic acid (I just like the smell) and the worst is the odor produced when you dump a mixture of acetic acid and sodium hypochlorite down the sink. I still haven't figured out what is being produced, exactly. When I write the formula, hypochlorous acid seems logical, but I have read in many places that chlorine gas is produced. I guess that would account for the burning feeling I get when breathing it.
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Nitro-esteban
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[*] posted on 3-9-2013 at 18:28


methyl salicylate smells magnificently good, I wonder what it tastes like.
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[*] posted on 3-9-2013 at 18:46


Don't taste more than a little bit; it's poisonous.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_salicylate#Safety_and_t...




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[*] posted on 3-9-2013 at 18:58


Best: Acetone

Worst: Hydrogen Chloride (especially when dissolved with iron (II) or (III) chloride. Ammonia is also pretty bad.

Forgive my simple answers, I'm only a beginning chemist.






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[*] posted on 4-9-2013 at 08:04


Quote: Originally posted by Nitro-esteban  
methyl salicylate smells magnificently good, I wonder what it tastes like.


Don't taste the pure material; buy some wintergreen candies.




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[*] posted on 22-10-2013 at 12:43


What in the unholy hell is the smell that comes off of sodium hydrosulfite in solution. It's abominable and more vile than hydrogen sulfide alone.



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[*] posted on 22-10-2013 at 23:10


Sodium hydrosulfite? Do you mean sodium dithionite, Na2S2O4, or sodium bisulfite, NaHSO3? The latter only smells of SO2, which is pungent, but not really bad. The former indeed has a very bad smell. In solution it decomposes and gives all kinds of sulphurous compounds, which are formed from a mix of H2S and SO2 (polythionic acids, polysulfides), many of them are formed in your nose when SO2 and H2S dissolve at the same time and they are perceived as having a truly foul smell.

See also "Wackenrodersche Flüssigkeit". More (brief) info in English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Wilhelm_Ferdinand_Wack...




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[*] posted on 22-10-2013 at 23:23


Quote: Originally posted by woelen  
Sodium hydrosulfite? Do you mean sodium dithionite, Na2S2O4, or sodium bisulfite, NaHSO3?


Dithionite. I also hate SO2, but because it's choking and makes me sneeze uncontrollably when inhaled in any significant concentration.




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[*] posted on 9-11-2013 at 09:49


Not the best or worst smelling, but I finished a synthesis of salicylamide and I've got to say... What a peculiar smell... Semi gross, semi familiar...
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[*] posted on 11-11-2013 at 11:41


I enjoy the smell of acetone and methanol, nice and sweet.

My worst would probably have to be NO2, that stuff just smells like you are about to die.

Ammonia can also be pretty bad, I cannot even discern a description for the smell of ammonia. It basically feels like being punched in the face with odour.

Trichloroisocyanuric acid, TCCA, is one of the bad ones for me too; Really strong chlorine stench, even worse than actual chlorine.
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[*] posted on 11-11-2013 at 13:32


Quote: Originally posted by Mailinmypocket  
The smell of potassium o-ethyldithiocarbonate is positively horrific, to me anyways. I'm trying to scrape it out of the reaction flask to wash and dry and it is ridiculously disgusting. It's like being surrounded by Taco Bell fart or something, gag-inducing :( hopefully it won't smell as terrible once washed and dried?


I can personally attest that the analogous isopropyl compound has a nasty smell as well, at least at first. It diminishes with time.

The worst smell for me is carbonyl sulfide.




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[*] posted on 11-11-2013 at 17:42


Quote: Originally posted by Saerynide  

Ethyl acetate smells nice :D Are we the only two who likes it?


I love ethyl acetate as well, isopropyl acetate is weird but pleasing as well.




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[*] posted on 12-11-2013 at 04:46


Quote: Originally posted by Oscilllator  

For some reason my solutions of potassium nitrate I make smell very nice, kind of sweet. I don't know if this is because of impurities, though.


Hmm, I think this is because of impurities. I have some ACS grade potassium nitrate and it has no smell to me.




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[*] posted on 12-11-2013 at 08:21


I have never found many compounds I enjoy because I find most smells overwhelming (the smell of apples and oranges make me want to vomit) but vanilin, chloroform :P (only a small whiff) and carbon dioxide smell absolutely wonderful. I don't get why people say acetone smells so good, it makes me feel sick.



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[*] posted on 12-11-2013 at 08:30


CO2, smell? :-?

I find nitrobenzene both nice and repulsive...




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[*] posted on 12-11-2013 at 11:25


Quote: Originally posted by Plutonium239  
Of the chemicals I've used in my "lab," the best-smelling one is probably acetic acid (I just like the smell) and the worst is the odor produced when you dump a mixture of acetic acid and sodium hypochlorite down the sink. I still haven't figured out what is being produced, exactly. When I write the formula, hypochlorous acid seems logical, but I have read in many places that chlorine gas is produced. I guess that would account for the burning feeling I get when breathing it.


From the research I've done, it looks like you're inhaling carbon monoxide. I could be wrong though. Don't do this.




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[*] posted on 12-11-2013 at 11:27


Quote: Originally posted by Pyro  
CO2, smell? :-?

I find nitrobenzene both nice and repulsive...


It has a faint smell. Open up a can of tonic water and smell. I think it might be the sensation more than the aroma though.




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DJF90
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[*] posted on 13-11-2013 at 13:05


Try sticking your head in a chest of dry ice. I know the smell/sensation. Like accidentally getting coke (the beverage) up your nose...
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[*] posted on 13-11-2013 at 13:14


To the above posts.

I wonder if impurity among nitrates is N2O since I also noticed the sweet smell of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.

Hypochlorite and acetic acid shouldn't be forming carbon monoxide if I remember correctly.

Inhaling something as cold as dry ice can't be healthy for the lungs either.
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[*] posted on 13-11-2013 at 15:01


I didn't mean the dry ice itself, but the very rich CO2 atmosphere in the chest. Just be careful not to asphyxiate.
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[*] posted on 13-11-2013 at 17:18


Is it just me or does Oxygen gas smell "fresh"? It's the only way I can describe it and I love it! :)
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[*] posted on 23-11-2013 at 17:55


My favorites: Vanillin, Chloroform, Bromoform, Lycopene
Worst: Hydrochloric Acid fumes, Sulfur Trioxide




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[*] posted on 24-11-2013 at 04:21


In my opinion the worst smelling compounds are triethyl amine , chloride and bromine just because of their strength but worst for smell of all the halogens is F2 although ive only smelt it in small concentrations it really does have an unpleasant smell.
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[*] posted on 24-11-2013 at 07:06


Iodoacetone=horrible
Call me weird but I love the smell of bromine.
I also like the smell of aluminum and copper sulfate.




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