Why does metal stink?

[Njrg]

I'll have my hand on my DS for hours and neither my hand or DS will stink.

And metal doesn't give off a particular aroma.

But if I fiddle with a steal screw or a pair of nail clippers, both the metals and my hands smell bad.

Explain this.

 

[B-Blue]

Miracles.

 

[Deleted User]

WHAT!?

 

[Infinite Zero]

lawl. I thought music genre "metal" stinks.

or else you will be flamed

 

[logical thinker]

I've never noticed this, and my hands do stink after holding the DS for hours.

 

[Veho]

Chemical reactions.

Dunno.

Maybe the metal oxidizes in contact with your sweat, or reacts with the slight acidity of your skin or what have you.

Then tere's the oils and rust inhibitors they coat the metal with.

I dunno.

On the other hand there's that stainless steel soap thing that removes odours, and it really works.

Metal

 

[logical thinker]

On the other hand there's that stainless steel soap thing that removes odours, and it really works.

It is fucking magic? They could use it on LOST finale.
Seriously, does anyone know how that works?

 

[Veho]

Wikipedia offers a few possible explanations:

Stainless steel consists of mainly iron and chromium, and contains a thin layer of chromium (III) oxide on its surface. Metal oxides are Lewis acids and readily catalyze oxidations. Iron and chromium oxides can be used as oxidation catalysts, effective for industrial-scale oxidation of odorous reduced sulfur compounds at a temperature of 180° C. For this to occur to begin with, the compounds must adsorb on the metal oxide surface. Chromium(III) may also act as an adsorbent only. Another plausible explanation is that a thin layer of grease, containing the odorous compounds, is rubbed off mechanically onto the steel surface.

 

[logical thinker]

Still kinda difficult to understand, but it is a good explanation.
Only this part is obviously wrong, otherwise you could rub your hands anywhere and it would get odorless:
"Another plausible explanation is that a thin layer of grease, containing the odorous compounds, is rubbed off mechanically onto the steel surface."

 

[Maikel Steneker]

Still kinda difficult to understand, but it is a good explanation.
Only this part is obviously wrong, otherwise you could rub your hands anywhere and it would get odorless:
"Another plausible explanation is that a thin layer of grease, containing the odorous compounds, is rubbed off mechanically onto the steel surface."

I don't think it's that easy to rub it off your hands. Metal of a paper clip or similar is in most cases smooth, you hands are not.

 

[Deleted-171178]

 

[Deleted-167431]

 

[Deleted-171178]

Bargains, imprisoning me.
Etc.