carbon monoxide

carbon monoxide
Carbonic Car*bon"ic, a. [Cf. F. carbonique. See {Carbon}.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, carbon; as, carbonic oxide. [1913 Webster]

{Carbonic acid} (Chem.), an acid {HO.CO.OH}, not existing separately, which, combined with positive or basic atoms or radicals, forms carbonates. In common language the term is very generally applied to a compound of carbon and oxygen, {CO2}, more correctly called {carbon dioxide}. It is a colorless, heavy, irrespirable gas, extinguishing flame, and when breathed destroys life. It can be reduced to a liquid and solid form by intense pressure. It is produced in the fermentation of liquors, and by the combustion and decomposition of organic substances, or other substances containing carbon. It is formed in the explosion of fire damp in mines, and is hence called {after damp}; it is also know as {choke damp}, and {mephitic air}. Water will absorb its own volume of it, and more than this under pressure, and in this state becomes the common soda water of the shops, and the carbonated water of natural springs. Combined with lime it constitutes limestone, or common marble and chalk. Plants imbibe it for their nutrition and growth, the carbon being retained and the oxygen given out.

{Carbonic oxide} (Chem.), a colorless gas, {CO}, of a light odor, called more correctly {carbon monoxide}. It is almost the only definitely known compound in which carbon seems to be divalent. It is a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon, and is an abundant constituent of water gas. It is fatal to animal life, extinguishes combustion, and burns with a pale blue flame, forming carbon dioxide. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • carbon monoxide — n a colorless odorless very toxic gas CO that burns to carbon dioxide with a blue flame and is formed as a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon * * * a colourless almost odourless gas that is very poisonous. When breathed in it combines …   Medical dictionary

  • Carbon monoxide — Carbon Car bon (k[aum]r b[o^]n), n. [F. carbone, fr. L. carbo coal; cf. Skr. [,c]r[=a] to cook.] (Chem.) 1. An elementary substance, not metallic in its nature, which is present in all organic compounds. Atomic weight 11.97. Symbol C. it is… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • carbon monoxide — UK US noun [U] ► ENVIRONMENT a poisonous gas formed when carbon is not burned completely, produced by vehicles and by heating equipment that is not working properly: »carbon monoxide poisoning/buildup/exposure → Compare CARBON DIOXIDE(Cf. ↑carbon …   Financial and business terms

  • carbon monoxide — 1873, so called because it consists of one carbon and one oxygen atom (as opposed to carbon dioxide, which has two of the latter) …   Etymology dictionary

  • carbon monoxide — ► NOUN ▪ a colourless, odourless toxic flammable gas formed by incomplete combustion of carbon …   English terms dictionary

  • carbon monoxide — n. a colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas, CO, produced by the incomplete combustion of carbonaceous material: it burns with a pale blue flame …   English World dictionary

  • Carbon monoxide — chembox Name = Carbon monoxide ImageFileL1 = Carbon monoxide 2D.svg ImageSizeL1 = 100px ImageNameL1 = Structure of the carbon monoxide molecule ImageFileR1 = Carbon monoxide 3D vdW.png ImageSizeR1 = 120px ImageNameR1 = Space filling model of the… …   Wikipedia

  • carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, CO, that burns with a pale blue flame, produced when carbon burns with insufficient air: used chiefly in organic synthesis, metallurgy, and in the preparation of metal carbonyls, as nickel carbonyl. [1870 75] …   Universalium

  • carbon monoxide — noun an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon • Syn: ↑carbon monoxide gas, ↑CO • Hypernyms: ↑monoxide * * * ˌcarbon monˈoxide [carbon monoxide] [ˌkɑːbən mənˈɒksaɪd] …   Useful english dictionary

  • carbon monoxide — N UNCOUNT Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that is produced especially by the engines of vehicles. The limit for carbon monoxide is 4.5 per cent of the exhaust gas …   English dictionary

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