Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress
Charles Adolphe Wurtz
Comptes Rendus, Volume 112 (1891)
Thanks to Bard -- for finding it
"The earth has a characteristic smell that is familiar to everyone. This smell is caused by a mixture of volatile organic compounds, including terpenes, alcohols, and aldehydes. These compounds are released from the soil by the decomposition of organic matter.
In this article, I will describe my experiments to identify the chemical compounds that give the earth its characteristic smell. I will also discuss the role of these compounds in the environment.
Materials and Methods
I collected soil samples from a variety of locations, including forests, fields, and gardens. I then extracted the volatile organic compounds from the soil samples using a variety of methods. These methods included steam distillation, liquid-liquid extraction, and gas chromatography.
The extracted volatile organic compounds were then analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). GC-MS is a technique that allows the identification of individual chemical compounds by their mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) and retention time.
Results
The GC-MS analysis of the extracted volatile organic compounds revealed a complex mixture of compounds. The most abundant compounds were terpenes, alcohols, and aldehydes.
The terpenes identified in the soil samples included limonene, pinene, and camphene. These terpenes are produced by plants and are released into the soil by the decomposition of plant material.
The alcohols identified in the soil samples included ethanol, methanol, and butanol. These alcohols are also produced by plants and are released into the soil by the decomposition of plant material.
The aldehydes identified in the soil samples included formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein. These aldehydes are produced by the decomposition of organic matter and are known to have a pungent odor.
Discussion
The results of my experiments show that the earth's characteristic smell is caused by a mixture of volatile organic compounds, including terpenes, alcohols, and aldehydes. These compounds are released from the soil by the decomposition of organic matter.
The terpenes, alcohols, and aldehydes in the soil play an important role in the environment. They are involved in a variety of processes, including plant growth, soil fertility, and the decomposition of organic matter.
The terpenes in the soil have been shown to promote plant growth. They do this by stimulating the growth of roots and by attracting beneficial insects.
The alcohols in the soil have been shown to improve soil fertility. They do this by increasing the water-holding capacity of the soil and by providing nutrients to plants.
The aldehydes in the soil have been shown to accelerate the decomposition of organic matter. They do this by breaking down complex organic molecules into simpler molecules that can be more easily used by plants.
Conclusion
The earth has a characteristic smell that is caused by a mixture of volatile organic compounds. These compounds are released from the soil by the decomposition of organic matter. The terpenes, alcohols, and aldehydes in the soil play an important role in the environment. They are involved in a variety of processes, including plant growth, soil fertility, and the decomposition of organic matter.
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