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Do Faeces still smell in water?
When you go to the toilet to defaecate (do a number 2)... once the faeces enters the water in your toilet (assuming it doesn't float), does it still release an odour that we can smell?
[science teacher]...
I'm not talking about the Sewerage treatment plants. I'm talking IN your toilet BOWL. If the gas can escape from the water, wouldn't we see Bubbles?
[MrNA]...
from what you're saying.. it's not bubbles, but just some aromatic chemicals disolving in the water... and then vapourizing at the water/air interface?
2 Answers
- mRNALv 51 decade agoFavourite answer
Lol!
Seriously though, faeces contain lots of nitrogen- and sulphur-containing aromatic (!) compounds which have appreciable vapour pressures, meaning a not-insignificant proportion of molecules will escape the liquid phase. Given that humans can detect certain thiols and indoles down to the 10 ppb level it doesn't take much of these compounds for them to be detected.
- science teacherLv 71 decade ago
Yes, polluted water or water treatment plants do smell. After bacteria work on the solid parts (sludge) at the water treatment plant and break it down, the smell decreases. Composting decreases this further.