Connexions module: m32939 1
Carbon Monoxide
∗
Andrew R. Barron
This work is produced by The Connexions Project and licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution License
†
Carbon monoxide (CO) is iso-electronic with nitrogen (N
2
) and formed through the incomplete combus-
tion of carbon, (1), or hydrocarbon compounds.
(1)
Carbon monoxide may also be made from steam and coal as part of synthesis gas, (3). A convenient
laboratory preparation of CO is the dehydration of formic acid by sulfuric acid, (2).
(2)
(3)
1 Hazards and toxicity
Carbon monoxide is ammable, (4), and has an explosive limit of 12.5 74% with an auto ignition temper-
ature of 609
◦
C.
(4)
Carbon monoxide is also very toxic; however, it is colorless, odorless, tasteless and non-irritating all of which
increase its danger. The incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon (natural gas or heating oil) or carbon sources
(coal or charcoal) is a common hazard in the home. In a closed environment (e.g., charcoal grill in room
with no, or poor, ventilation) as carbon uses up oxygen in room the formation of toxic carbon monoxide
results instead of carbon dioxide (CO
2
).Typical sources of CO in the home are shown in Figure 1.
∗
Version 1.2: Jan 20, 2010 10:02 am US/Central
†
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
http://cnx.org/content/m32939/1.2/
