Chemistry
The composition of farts varies dramatically among individuals. Flatulence produces a mixture of gases with the following six as major components:
- carbon dioxide,
- hydrogen,
- hydrogen sulfide,
- methane,
- nitrogen,
- oxygen.
Methane burns in oxygen forming water and carbon dioxide often producing a blue hue (ΔHc = -891 kJ/mol), as:
- CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
Hydrogen sulfide also combusts (ΔHc = -519 kJ/mol) to
- 2H2S(g) + 3O2(g) → 2SO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
The odor associated with flatus is due to hydrogen sulfide, skatole, indole, volatile amines and short chain fatty acids. These substances are detectable by olfactory neurons in concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion, hydrogen sulfide being the most detectable.
Read more about this topic: Fart Lighting
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