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Astink bomb, sometimes called astinkpot, is a device designed to create an unpleasantsmell. They range in effectiveness from being used as simplepranks[1] to military grademalodorants orriot controlchemical agents.
A stink bomb that could be launched with arrows was invented byLeonardo da Vinci.[2]
The 1972 U.S. presidential campaign ofEdmund Muskie was disrupted at least four times in Florida in 1972 with the use of stink bombs during the Floridapresidential primary.[3] Stink bombs were set off at campaign picnics in Miami and Tampa, at the Muskie campaign headquarters in Tampa and at offices in Tampa where the campaign's telephone bank was located.[3] The stink bomb plantings served to disrupt the picnics and campaign operations, and was deemed by the U.S. Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities of the U.S. Senate to have "disrupted, confused, and unnecessarily interfered with a campaign for the office of the Presidency".[3]
In 2004, it was reported that the Israeli weapons research and development directorate had created a liquid stink bomb, dubbed the "skunk bomb", with an odor that lingers for five years on clothing.[4] It is a synthetic stink bomb based upon the chemistry of thespray that is emitted from the anal glands of the skunk.[4] It was designed as acrowd control tool to be used as a deterrent that causes people to scatter, such as at a protest.[4] It has been described as aless than lethal weapon.[4]
At the lower end of the spectrum, relatively harmless stink bombs consist of a mixture ofammonium sulfide, vinegar and bicarbonate, which smells strongly of rotteneggs.[2] When exposed to air, the ammonium sulfide reacts withmoisture,hydrolyzes, and a mixture ofhydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) andammonia is released. Another mixture consists of hydrogen sulfide and ammonia mixed together directly.[5]
Other popular substances on which to base stink bombs arethiols with lower molecular weight such asmethyl mercaptan andethyl mercaptan—the chemicals that are added in minute quantities tonatural gas in order to make gas leaks detectable by smell. A variation on this idea is thescent bomb, orperfume bomb, filled with an overpowering "cheap perfume" smell.
At the upper end of the spectrum, the governments ofIsrael[4] and theUnited States of America are developing stink bombs for use by theirlaw enforcement agencies andmilitaries asriot control[4] andarea denial weapons. Using stink bombs for these purposes has advantages over traditionalriot control agents: unlikepepper spray andtear gas, stink bombs are believed not to be dangerous, although their psychological effects can make people sick.[6]
Prank stink bombs and perfume bombs are usually sold as a 1- or 2-mL sealed glassampoule, which can be broken by throwing against a hard surface or by crushing under one's shoe sole, thus releasing the malodorous liquid contained therein. Another variety of prank stink bomb comprises two bags, one smaller and inside the other. The inner one contains a liquid and the outer one a powder. When the inner one is ruptured by squeezing it, the liquid reacts with the powder, producing hydrogen sulfide, which expands and bursts the outer bag, releasing an unpleasant odor.
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Typically, lower molecular weightvolatile organic compounds are used. Generally, the higher the molecular weight for a given class of compounds, the lower the volatility and initial concentration but the longer the persistence. Some chemicals (typically thiols) have a certain concentration threshold over which the smell is not perceived significantly stronger; therefore a lower-volatility compound is capable of providing comparable stench intensity to a higher-volatility compound, but for longer time. Another issue is theoperating temperature, on which the compound's volatility strongly depends. Care should be taken as some compounds are toxic either in higher concentration or after prolonged exposure in low concentration.
Some plants may be used as improvised stink bombs; one such plant is theParkia speciosa or 'stinky bean', which grows inIndia,Southeast Asia and EasternAustralia. The pods from this plant are collected when partly dried and stamped on, to release the stink.[7]
Some common components are:
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Making the US Government Standard Bathroom Malodor | |
 Making a fart juice developed by the U.S. government, NileBlue. |
The US Government Standard Bathroom Malodor, said to be one of the worst-smelling substances,[8] is quoted as having this composition: (Note that this substance is a concoction)[9]
| Dipropylene glycol | 62.82% |
| Thioglycolic acid | 21.18% |
| Hexanoic acid | 6.00% |
| N-methylmorpholine | 6.00% |
| p-cresyl isovalerate (4-methylphenyl 3-methylbutanoate) | 2.18% |
| 2-Naphthalenethiol | 0.91% |
| Skatole | 0.91% |
