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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: /// on December 28, 2006, 02:49:03 PM

Title: Transmitting Scents
Post by: /// on December 28, 2006, 02:49:03 PM

I've got a research project about transmitting scents and its factors

I found ouit that smells travel through diffusion, so would it be the same if it just research factors affecting diffusion, since scents travel through the process of diffusion? I'm guessing air temperature, pressure etc, will have an effect on how scents travel, but I can't find any websites or anything to back up my "thoughts."

Anyone know any good websites?

Title: Re: Transmitting Scents
Post by: Mitch on December 28, 2006, 02:56:37 PM

The velocity a scent travels is this:

velocity = ( 3 * R_constant * Temperature / Molar mass of the molecule constituting the scent) ^ 1/2

Look up something called molecular speed. This might be useful too http://blog.khymos.org/2006/12/28/odor-recognition-by-shape-or-vibration/

Title: Re: Transmitting Scents
Post by: /// on January 04, 2007, 07:44:43 PM

Thanks.

Is there anything else thats more specific to the factors?

Title: Re: Transmitting Scents
Post by: /// on January 07, 2007, 08:00:04 PM

Am I right tho, that scents travel by Diffusion?

I just read some other websites and found that it's just odour molecules that float in the air that move with the wind..
Now im stresssin;;

Title: Re: Transmitting Scents
Post by: billnotgatez on January 07, 2007, 10:43:02 PM

If you are downwind of an animal when you are hunting they will not sense you by smell.

If you have extreme body odor and are in a room with me that has no drafts, eventually I will sense your presence even with the lights off and my hearing muffled.