I need a chemist.

[Myrmex]

At work, I've found that using ethanol on BME (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2-Mercaptoethanol) makes it not smell horrible, while water does nothing.

Why? Is ethanol better at solvating it? Is there a reaction occurring that sequesters the sulfur? When the two are mixed, it turns a milky white (briefly), but I don't know if this is due to that thing that happens when you mix two solutions together, or an actual reaction occurring.


Can anyone tell me what's going on?

[Cyrion]

Yes, ethanol should be better at solvating it because they're a little more similar in terms of polarity. You may also see a little bit of substitution for the hydrogen on the sulfide- the sulfide hyrdogen reacts with the hydroxyl group of the alcohol to eliminate water and form a disubstitued sulfide instead of the monosubstituted. This would result in something that has a higher molecular weight and could be less volatile- thus not smelling so bad.

I think the solvation is the main actor here.

[Berserk Monk]

I'm an alchemist. Does that count?

[Lord Fullbladder, Master of Goblins]

Only with horseshoes and hand grenades, Beserk Monk.

.... And now I'm backing out of the conversation, what with my intense lack of chemical wizardry.

[Mauve Shirt]

I read the title and immediately thought "I'm holding out for a chemist til the morning light."
I'm afraid I have nothing else to contribute. *leaves*

[V'icternus]

Well, Mauve Read my mind on the subject, so I have less to add than her. Might be best to go see an actual chemist, though.

[Myrmex]

Yes, ethanol should be better at solvating it because they're a little more similar in terms of polarity. You may also see a little bit of substitution for the hydrogen on the sulfide- the sulfide hyrdogen reacts with the hydroxyl group of the alcohol to eliminate water and form a disubstitued sulfide instead of the monosubstituted. This would result in something that has a higher molecular weight and could be less volatile- thus not smelling so bad.

I think the solvation is the main actor here.

Thanks. I suspected something similar, but I did poorly in organic chemistry, and most of it has failed to stick, anyway.

[Eldritch Knight]

Thanks. I suspected something similar, but I did poorly in organic chemistry, and most of it has failed to stick, anyway.

That....was horrible!

[Myrmex]

That....was horrible!

...question mark?