Question

Which one among the following is a strong smelling agent added to LPG cylinder to help in the detection of gas leakage?
A. Ethanol
B. Thioethanol
C. Methane
D. Chloroform

Answer 1

Hint: Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG which is present inside a cylinder and used for household purposes, is a colourless, odourless gas. Therefore, a smelling agent is required to be mixed along with the LPG, so that in case of leakage, the user can detect it, through smell.

Step by step answer:
Thioethanol which is also known as ethyl mercaptan which is a colourless gas or clear liquid with distinct odour.
Thioethanol is intentionally added to LPG or butane and propane to impart an easily noticed smell. LPG leakage poses the threat of fire explosion. In the underground mining industry Thioethanol or ethyl mercaptan is referred to as stretch gas. Therefore the correct answer to the question which one among the following is a strong smelling agent added to the LPG cylinder to help in the detection of gas leakage is Thioethanol.
So, the correct option is Option B.

Additional Information:
Thioethanol or ethyl mercaptan is colourless or can be yellowish liquid, which has a garlic or skunk like odour.

Note: LPG is basically propane and butane which is odorless in its natural state. The smell that we notice when there is a leak in is actually the strength of an entirely different agent which is called the ethyl mercaptan. This substance is added to the gas when it leaves the main storage terminals.