Question

Both cyanide and hydrogen sulfide have characteristic odors. Explain why the use of smell is of limited value in preventing toxicity from these two agents.

Answer 1

Cyanide exposure is associated with smoke inhalation, laboratory mishaps, industrial incidents, suicide attempts, and criminal activity.Cyanide is a chemical group that consists of one atom of carbon bound to one atom of nitrogen by three molecular bond Inorganic cyanides or cyanide saltscontain cyanide in the anion form and are used in numerous industries, such as metallurgy, photographic developing, plastic manufacturing, fumigation, and mining.Organic compounds that have a cyano group bonded to an alkyl residue are called nitriles. For example, methyl cyanide is also known as acetonitrile Hydrogen cyanide is a colorless gas at standard temperature and pressure with a reported bitter odor. Cyanogen gas, a dimer of cyanide, reacts with water and breaks down into the cyanide anion. Cyanogen chloride is a colorless gas that is easily condensed; it is a listed agent by the Chemical Weapons Convention Common cyanide salts include sodium cyanide and potassium cyanide . Sodium salts react readily with water to form hydrogen cyanide. so thats why smel is better than test and likewiseHydrogen sulfide is a colorless flammable gas with a characteristic odor of rotten eggs.Occupational exposure to hydrogen sulfide occurs in the agricultural, gas, oil-refining, and other industries, and workers often notice the characteristic rotten-egg odor associated with exposure. Most people readily perceive hydrogen sulfide because the olfactory detection limit for it is so low and the toxic effects of hydrogen sulfide are characteristically dose-related and most notably involve the nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.People exposed at low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur gases often report head aches, nausea, and other symptoms. Hydrogen sulfide is a contact irritant, causing inflammatory and irritant effects on the moist membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract; respiratory tract inflammation can result with exposure at about 50 ppm. Eye irritation is the most common complaint associated with single or repeated hydrogen sulfide exposure.people recovering from hydrogen sulfide exposure can have cough and a variety of effects on the sense of smell, including diminished function so for priventing toxicity of these two smell is supose to use