Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is one of two oxides of carbon, the other being carbon dioxide. It is an important industrial compound.

Preparation of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide, CO, is prepared in the laboratory either

by dehydrating formic acid with concentrated sulphuric acid.
```
		HCOOH   ==>   H2O  +  CO        
```

by passing carbon dioxide over heated carbon.

       
	 		  heat    
		CO2   +   C   ==>     2 CO

Industrially, carbon monoxide is prepared by the oxidation of natural gas, which consists primarily of methane or by the water gas reaction.

The physical properties of carbon monoxide are that it

is a colourless, odourless, neutral, gaseous oxide, which is highly poisonous,
is sparingly soluble in water, but is soluble in ethanol and in benzene.
has
- Melting Point : -199 degC
- Boiling Point : -91.5 degC
- Relative density : 1.25
The chemical properties of carbon monoxide are that it
is a flammable and highly toxic gas,
is a neutral oxide which burns in air to give carbon dioxide,
is a good reducing agent, and is used for that purpose in industry,
```
		CuO  +  CO  ==>	  Cu  +  CO2       
```
and, is an important industrial gas, which is widely used as a fuel.
It is also an important reducing agent in the chemical industry.

Carbon monoxide is an important industrial gas, which is widely used as a fuel. It is also an important reducing agent in the chemical industry.