The major components of the flatus (which are odorless) by percentage are:
- Nitrogen 20% - 90%
- Hydrogen 0% - 50%
- Carbon Dioxide 10% - 30%
- Oxygen 0% - 10%
- Methane 0% - 10%
The gas released during a flatus event frequently has a foul odor which mainly results from low molecular weight fatty acids such as butyric acid (rancid butter smell) and reduced sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell) and carbonyl sulfide that are the result of protein breakdown.
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