Butane-1-thiol
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Names | |
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Preferred IUPAC name
Butane-1-thiol | |
Other names
Butyl mercaptan
n-Butyl mercaptan Thiobutyl alcohol Mercaptobutane n-Butanethiol 1-Mercaptobutane | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol)
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ChemSpider | |
PubChem CID
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UNII | |
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Properties | |
C4H10S | |
Molar mass | 90.18 g·mol−1 |
Appearance | Clear liquid |
Odor | cabbage-like, skunk-like, garlic-like[2] |
Density | 0.83679 g/mL |
Melting point | −115.8 °C (−176.4 °F; 157.3 K) |
Boiling point | 98.2 °C (208.8 °F; 371.3 K) |
Slightly soluble (0.06% at 20°C)[2] | |
Vapor pressure | 35 mmHg (20°C)[2] |
Hazards | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | <imagemap>
File:NFPA 704.svg|80px|alt=NFPA 704 four-colored diamond poly 150 150 300 300 150 450 0 300 Health 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroform poly 300 0 450 150 300 300 150 150 Flammability 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g. gasoline poly 450 150 600 300 450 450 300 300 Instability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogen poly 300 300 450 450 300 600 150 450 Special hazards (white): no code desc none </imagemap> |
Flash point | 2 °C; 35 °F; 275 K[2] |
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LC50 (median concentration)
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4020 ppm (rat, 4 hr) 2500 ppm (mouse, 4 hr) 770 ppm (dog, 30 min)[3] |
NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |
PEL (Permissible)
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TWA 10 ppm (35 mg/m3)[2] |
REL (Recommended)
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C 0.5 ppm (1.8 mg/m3) [15-minute][2] |
IDLH (Immediate danger)
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500 ppm[2] |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Butane-1-thiol, also known as butyl mercaptan, is a volatile, clear to yellowish liquid with a fetid (extremely foul-smelling) odor, commonly described as "skunk" odor. In fact, 1-butanethiol is structurally similar to several major constituents of a skunk's defensive spray but is not actually present in the spray.[4] The scent of 1-butanethiol is so strong that the human nose can easily detect it in the air at concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion. The threshold level for 1-butanethiol is reported as 1.4 ppb[5]
Chemistry
Butane-1-thiol is chemically classified among the thiols, which are organic compounds with molecular formulas and structural formulas similar to alcohols, except that the sulfur-containing sulfhydryl group (-SH) replaces the oxygen-containing hydroxyl group (-OH) in the molecule. 1-Butanethiol's basic molecular formula is C4H9SH, and its structural formula is similar to that of the alcohol n-butanol. 1-Butanethiol is prepared by the free radical catalyzed addition of hydrogen sulfide to 1-butene. Commercially, this is performed using ultraviolet light. 1-Butanethiol is a thiol of low molecular weight, and it is highly flammable.
Uses
Butane-1-thiol is used as an industrial solvent,[citation needed] and as an intermediate for cotton defoliants.[6] It is sometimes placed in "stink bombs" and "stink perfumes" for pranksters.
Safety
Butane-1-thiol is a very noxious and caustic chemical compound, and at sufficiently high concentrations, it produces serious health effects in both humans and animals, especially as a result of prolonged exposure. Higher concentrations can lead to unconsciousness and coma after prolonged exposure. Contact with the skin and mucous membranes causes burns, and contact with the eyes can lead to blurred vision or complete blindness.[citation needed]
Inhalation may cause weakness, confusion, cough, dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. The substance irritates the eyes, the skin, and the respiratory tract. It may cause effects on the thyroid and the nervous system and could cause lowering of consciousness.[7]
See also
- tert-Butylthiol (tert-butyl mercaptan)
Notes
- ^ Merck Index, 12th Edition, 1611.
- ^ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0083". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- ^ "n-Butyl mercaptan". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- ^ Andersen K. K., Bernstein D. T. (1978). "1-Butanethiol and the Striped Skunk". Journal of Chemical Education. 55 (3): 159–160. Bibcode:1978JChEd..55..159A. doi:10.1021/ed055p159.
- ^ Devos, M; F. Patte; J. Rouault; P. Lafort; L. J. Van Gemert (1990). Standardized Human Olfactory Thresholds. Oxford: IRL Press. p. 34. ISBN 0199631468.
- ^ National Library of Medicine HSDB Database. "Merphos". National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "n-BUTYL MERCAPTAN". International Chemical Safety Cards. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
References
- U.S. Department of Labor Archived 2017-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
- The Good Scents Company
- HazMap
External links
- Articles without EBI source
- Articles without KEGG source
- Chembox image size set
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Articles with unsourced statements from May 2012
- Articles with unsourced statements from January 2012
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- Webarchive template wayback links
- Alkanethiols
- Foul-smelling chemicals
- Butyl compounds