Butane-1-thiol

Butane-1-thiol[1]
Skeletal formula
Ball-and-stick model
3D-stick model
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Butane-1-thiol
Other names
Butyl mercaptan
n-Butyl mercaptan
Thiobutyl alcohol
Mercaptobutane
n-Butanethiol
1-Mercaptobutane
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.370 Edit this at Wikidata
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C4H10S/c1-2-3-4-5/h5H,2-4H2,1H3 checkY
    Key: WQAQPCDUOCURKW-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C4H10S/c1-2-3-4-5/h5H,2-4H2,1H3
    Key: WQAQPCDUOCURKW-UHFFFAOYAG
  • SCCCC
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)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 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. gasolineInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
3
0
Flash point 2 °C; 35 °F; 275 K[2]
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
4020 ppm (rat, 4 hr)
2500 ppm (mouse, 4 hr)
770 ppm (dog, 30 min)[3]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 10 ppm (35 mg/m3)[2]
REL (Recommended)
 C 0.5 ppm (1.8 mg/m3) [15-minute][2]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 500 ppm[2]
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

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]

  1. ^ Merck Index, 12th Edition, 1611.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0083". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. ^ "n-Butyl mercaptan". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Devos, M; F. Patte; J. Rouault; P. Lafort; L. J. Van Gemert (1990). Standardized Human Olfactory Thresholds. Oxford: IRL Press. p. 34. ISBN 0199631468.