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Mercaptans, also known as thiols, are sulfur-containing compounds with the general formula RSH, where R represents a hydrocarbon group.

Whereas methyl mercaptan (methanethiol) is the only mercaptan that is in gaseous state at room temperature and typically is the only mercaptan found in natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) contains primarily both methyl and ethyl mercaptans, and heavier fuels such as gasoline, kerosene, and diesel fractions contains mercaptans with a higher molecular weight according to the hydrocarbon chain length.

Common liquid mercaptans are:

• Ethyl mercaptan | Ethanethiol: 35°C boiling point
• n-Propyl mercaptan | Propanethiol: 68°C boiling point
• Isopropyl mercaptan | 2-Propanethiol: 52.5°C boiling point
• Butyl mercaptan | Butane-1-thiol: 98.2°C boiling point
• Isobutyl mercaptan | 2-Methyl-1-propanethiol: 88.5°C boiling point
• Tert-butyl mercaptan | ter-Butylthiol: 64°C boiling point

These compounds have distinct properties such as a a strong, unpleasant odor similar to rotten eggs, they are slightly acidic, with acidity decreasing as molecular weight increases, they can cause corrosion in pipelines and storage facilities, and they are toxic and pose health risks through inhalation.

Source: Perplexity A.I. search, 1^st Jan 2024, Prompt: 'What are most common mercaptans, especially those found in refined fuels' and follow-up prompts.

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