1. organic compounds containing sulfur that have a strong, unpleasant odor, often added to natural gas as a safety measure
Usage: chemistry; plural form

Examples

• Natural gas companies add mercaptans to make gas leaks detectable by smell.
• The mercaptans gave off a rotten egg odor that filled the laboratory.
• Safety regulations require the addition of mercaptans to odorless natural gas.
• The chemical analysis revealed high concentrations of mercaptans in the sample.
• Workers must wear protective equipment when handling mercaptans due to their strong smell.
• Mercaptans are commonly used as odorants in the gas industry.