noun
- organic compounds containing sulfur that have a strong, unpleasant odor, often added to natural gas as a safety measure
Usage: chemistry; plural form
Examples
- Natural gas companies add mercaptans to make gas leaks detectable by smell.
- The mercaptans gave off a rotten egg odor that filled the laboratory.
- Safety regulations require the addition of mercaptans to odorless natural gas.
- The chemical analysis revealed high concentrations of mercaptans in the sample.
- Workers must wear protective equipment when handling mercaptans due to their strong smell.
- Mercaptans are commonly used as odorants in the gas industry.