Imekhaptani zingase zibonakalisa kahle. Umokhudwana ongaphansi (njengoba i-ezansi, i-ayodini, i-oksayidi yeesithombe, i-manganese dioxide, njll.) ungakwazi ukubonakalisa ithayoli kwi-disulfide. I-phepha elingaphakathi lwe-oksijini elingabonakalisa ngokwezempilo, njengoba i-cysteine-cystine-oxygen pair. I-disulfide bond ekwenzeni i-disulfide ekwenzayo inamandla ekwenzeni ukulawula isimo semithwalo yeprotein.

Umamukelwa okuthiwa yi mercaptan ngokwenziwa okuthiwa ngu oxidizing agent esemthethweni (njengase potassium permanganate, nitric acid, periodic acid), futhi kuyavela ngemuva kwe sulfenic acid noma sulfinic acid ukuba kufinyelelekele kwe sulfonic acid. Lolu hlelo lusebenzisa ukwenza izinto ezimbalwa zesulfonic acid.

Ukucubungula kwemekhaptani kwezokwenza ukudubula nokwenza izinto ezihambisana nezihaydrokhaboni. Ukucubungula kwesikhumba esikhethwe kwezokwenza ukudubula kwezomnotho kwezomnotho kuyisisekelo lesi sici. Kukhona isilinganiso esincane sesimekthani ekhishini. Ukuphila kwesimekthani akufanele kwenze ukuthi igesine lihlale libukele, kodwa futhi lihamba phambili ukuba libe nesici esingathandi nesici esingathandi uma kushiswa.