mercaptan

American  

[mer-kap-tan] / mərˈkæp tæn /

noun

Chemistry.

1. any of a class of sulfur-containing compounds having the type formula RSH, in which R represents a radical, and having an extremely offensive, garlicky odor.

---

mercaptan British  

/ mɜːˈkæptæn /

noun

1. another name (not in technical usage) for thiol

---

mercaptan Scientific  

/ mər-kăp′tăn′ /

1. See thiol

---

Etymology

Origin of mercaptan

1825–35; < Latin, short for phrase corpus mercurium captāns body capturing quicksilver

Example Sentences

The employees at the now-closed DuPont chemical plant in LaPorte, Texas, died in November 2014 when a chemical used in the manufacturing of insecticide and fungicide, methyl mercaptan, was released.

From Seattle Times

But when the gas is processed for transport and sale, producers add a chemical called mercaptan to give it a distinctive “rotten egg” smell that helps make people aware of leaks.

From Seattle Times

Testing also confirmed that the odorant additive Mercaptan was present in the gas line leading into the home.

From Seattle Times

Because natural gas has no smell, Piedmont uses mercaptan — also known as methanethiol — to give the gas “a distinctive smell of rotten eggs,” the utility said in a news release.

From Seattle Times

Piedmont Natural Gas said the cleanup company, Legacy Environmental Services, was destroying mercaptan tanks north of downtown Charlotte that were mistakenly reported as empty, The Charlotte Observer reported.

From Seattle Times