Mercaptan is a sulfur-containing organic compound used as an odorant or odorant precursor in natural gas to give it a detectable sulfur smell. In chemistry, mercaptans are alternatively called thiols, characterized by a sulphur-hydrogen (–SH) group attached to a carbon atom. The term spans several related structures, but each possesses the distinctive thiol functionality that drives odor and reactivity in petrochemical contexts.
Full pronunciation guide
