Why are some substances odorless and tasteless?
In: Chemistry
Because we never evolved receptors for their taste/smell. A common case is Carbon Monoxide. THAT is completely odourless and very deadly to us. You’d think being able to smell it would be an advantage.
Well yes but lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide only happen in enclosed spaces from incomplete combustion. Our far away ancestors just never had those situations, being able to smell CO was never an advantage and so we don’t.
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