Carbon monoxide
Molar mass: 28.01 g/mol · Class: Toxic covalent oxide
Elements: carbon, oxygen
Structure
The molecule has a triple bond between carbon and oxygen, with the carbon carrying a lone pair. This lone pair lets CO bind to the iron in hemoglobin about 200 times more strongly than oxygen does.
Properties
Colorless, odorless, tasteless gas: undetectable by senses
Binds hemoglobin far more strongly than oxygen
Burns with a blue flame to form carbon dioxide
Slightly less dense than air
Applications
Industrial reducing agent in metal smelting
Feedstock for making methanol and acetic acid
DEADLY POISON: odorless and invisible. Never run engines or grills indoors or in garages, and never ignore a CO alarm. Symptoms (headache, dizziness, nausea) mimic flu. Install detectors on every floor and get out immediately if one sounds.
Data source: IUPAC standard atomic weights 2021; molar mass computed from CO