Carbon monoxide is dangerous because we cannot sense its presence from car exhaust, cigarette smoke, coal stoves, heaters, etc. While at a concentration of one part per thousand, carbon monoxide can already be life-threatening. So, what is CO gas, what kind of substance is CO, where does CO gas come from? What are the applications of CO, and what are the harmful effects of CO gas? Let’s find out with Migco in the article below.
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What is CO Gas?
What is CO gas?
Coal gas is a gas produced during the combustion of coal. Its main component is Carbon Monoxide. In addition, it contains small amounts of other gases such as Nitrogen oxide compounds, Hydrogen Sulfide, Sulfur Dioxide, and Marsh Gas, etc.
People often call coal gas Carbon oxide gas. Its molecular formula is CO, and it is a colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas.
What is Carbon Monoxide?
What is Carbon Monoxide, what is CO gas? What kind of substance is CO?
What is CO gas? Carbon monoxide has the chemical formula CO. It is a colorless, odorless, flammable, and highly toxic gas. It is the main product of the incomplete combustion of carbon and carbon-containing compounds.
Source: https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacbon_monoxit
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Where does CO gas come from?
Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels such as gas, coal, wood, gasoline, oil… especially when fuel is burned in conditions of insufficient air or oxygen.
Structural Formula of CO – Carbon Monoxide
Structural formula of CO gas: C≡O (where there is one dative bond).

Chemical Properties of CO – Carbon Monoxide
Below are some chemical properties of CO:
- The carbon monoxide molecule has a stable triple bond, so at room temperature, C is very inert and only reacts under high-temperature conditions.
- Carbon monoxide is a strong reducing agent.
- CO is a neutral oxide that cannot form salts → it does not react with basic solutions and acidic solutions at room temperature.
Further explanation: What is a neutral oxide?
Neutral oxides are non-metal oxides that cannot form salts (do not react with water, acids, or bases).
Reaction with non-metals:
- 2CO + O2 → 2CO2 (7000C)
- CO + Cl2 → COCl2 (phosgene)
CO reduces oxides of metals placed after Al in the reactivity series of metals (reaction occurs at high temperatures)
- 3CO + Fe2O3 → 3CO2 + 2Fe
- CO + CuO → CO2 + Cu
Preparation of CO
Industrial Preparation
- C + H2O ↔ CO + H2 (10500C)
- CO2 + C → 2CO (t0)
Laboratory Preparation
- HCOOH → CO + H2O (concentrated H2SO4, t0)
Where is CO Gas Produced From – Sources of CO Gas
There are many sources that produce carbon monoxide. Below are the main natural sources of CO gas:
- Exhaust fumes from internal combustion engines produced after burning carbon-based fuels (almost any fuel source, except pure hydrogen) contain carbon monoxide.
- Carbon monoxide also exists in small but significant concentrations in cigarette smoke.
- In households, carbon monoxide is produced when fuel sources such as gasoline, gas, oil, or wood do not burn completely in appliances that use them as fuel, such as motorcycles, cars, heaters, and stoves, etc. This is considered a very large source of CO gas released into the environment.
Applications of CO Gas (Carbon Monoxide)
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- Carbon monoxide is an industrial gas with many applications in chemical production.
- CO gas is used as a fuel in industry.
- CO is applied in metallurgy to produce metals in blast furnaces.
- Food processors have used carbon monoxide (CO) gas to treat the muscle tissue of fish to retain its red color.
- Highly toxic CO gas is used as a gaseous fuel because when heated, CO burns in oxygen or air, producing a pale blue flame and releasing a lot of heat.
=> See more: Applications of CO Gas
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