the smell of metal

[eub]

Wikipedia:

Oct-1-en-3-one (CH2=CHC(=O)(CH2)4CH3), also known as 1-octen-3-one, is the odorant that is responsible for the typical metallic smell of metals and blood coming into contact with skin.[1] Oct-1-en-3-one has a strong metallic mushroom-like odor with an odor detection threshold of 0.03 - 1.12 µg/m³ and it is the main compound responsible for the "smell of metal", followed by decanal (smell: orange skin, flowery) and nonanal (smell: tallowy, fruity).[2] Oct-1-en-3-one is the degradative reduction product of the chemical reaction of skin lipid peroxides and Fe2+.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that! I know the smell. Now I'm curious about lipid peroxides. Are they CH3/\/\/\/COOOH? or is it a glycerol bilipid with the peroxide off the remaining -OH of the gly?

[eub.livejournal.com]

In my mind I had what actually would be an epoxide formed by peroxide on a double bond. Looks like the real thing is a hydroperoxy -OOH stuck on the side of the alkyl chain, through a radical chain reaction.

[beaq.livejournal.com]

It's weird how I was just noticing the smell of blood this morning, from my finger.

Are the tallowy and fruity smells part of that metal smell?

[eub.livejournal.com]

So they seem to be saying! I'll have to bloody myself and sniff for a note of orange skin.