Difference Between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide (With Table)

Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are two different forms of air. Both of them are different from each other. They have different properties and characteristics. Depending on the number of oxygen, they get differentiated into monoxide and dioxide.

Carbon Monoxide vs Carbon Dioxide

The main difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide is the number of oxygen they hold. Carbon monoxide is nothing but a mixture of one oxygen and one carbon atom. Carbon dioxide is nothing but the combination of two oxygens and one carbon atom.
They have different types of sensing agents. Carbon monoxide uses electrochemical agents to sense, whereas carbon dioxide uses infrared sensors.

Carbon monoxide is a fatal toxic gas, which is not a naturally occurring gas. CO is the molecular formula of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas. When compared to the density of air, the density of carbon monoxide is slightly lower and it is flammable. The combination of a single carbon atom and a single oxygen atom is called carbon monoxide. It comes under the oxocarbon family. The coordination complex between carbon and oxygen atom is called carbonyl.
Comparison Table Between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a gas, that naturally occurs in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is nothing but the combination of a single carbon atom and a double oxygen atom. The bond between a carbon atom and an oxygen atom in carbon dioxide is called a covalent bond. Carbon dioxide is a trace gas that is acidic and colorless. The current rate of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 412rpm. Carbon dioxide is released from volcanoes, geysers, carbonate rocks, and plants.

Comparison Table Between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide

Parameters of comparison

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon Dioxide

Molecular mass

The molecular mass of carbon monoxide is 28.01 g/mol

The molecular mass of carbon dioxide is 44 g/mol

Molecular Formula

The molecular formula for carbon monoxide is CO

The molecular formula for carbon dioxide is CO2

Characteristics

Carbon monoxide is a flammable gas

Carbon dioxide is a non-flammable gas

Molar mass

The molar mass of carbon monoxide is 28.010 g/mol

The molar mass of carbon dioxide is 44.009 g/mol

Solubility in water

The solubility in water for carbon monoxide is 27.6 mg/L

The solubility in water for carbon dioxide is 1.45 g/L

What is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is produced by thermal combustion and also many significant biological resources are available. It is a vital source or major ingredient in drugs, fragrances. In industries, carbon monoxide is the key element for production. The production of carbon monoxide includes many organisms and human beings. Carbon monoxide also have a big part in climate change. The emission of carbon monoxide affects the atmosphere severely.

Carbon monoxide has a vital in biological factors. The low concentration of carbon monoxide will act as neurotransmitters, whereas a high concentration of carbon monoxide acts as toxic inhibitors. When carbon monoxide reacts with cyanide, it becomes isoelectric. Carbonous oxide, Kohlenoxyd, and carboneum oxgenisatum are other names for carbon monoxide. It is also called water gas, illuminating gas, and fuel gas.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a type of breathing breaking. Since it affects your central nervous system, it causes headaches, chest pain, and vomiting. The molar mass of carbon monoxide is 28.010 g/mol. The melting point of carbon monoxide is −205.02 °C, and the boiling point of carbon monoxide is −191.5 °C. At 609 °C, the carbon monoxide will get auto-ignited.

What is Carbon Dioxide?

Carbon dioxide also occurs in lakes, seawater, because it is soluble in water. It is also present in natural gas and petrol. It is an odorless gas and generates soda tase. The primary source of life on earth is carbon dioxide. Human beings themselves exhale carbon dioxide. The balance of carbon dioxide is regulated by photosynthetic organisms. Plants inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen, by which the carbon cycle is balanced.

During the process called decay, carbon dioxide is released. Aerobic animals inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. During the combustion of wood, carbon dioxide is released. All these gas released from various sources is balanced by planting more plants. In welding and other industrial processes, carbon dioxide is used as an inert gas. It acts as pressurizing gas in industries. Carbon dioxide is an ingredient added to drinking water and beverages.

The frozen carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant or dry ice blasting. In the earth’s atmosphere, carbon dioxide is a long-lived greenhouse gas. Deforestation may increase the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and lead to global warming. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it produces carbonic acid which leads to ocean acidification. The molar mass of carbon dioxide is 44.009 g·mol−1. Carbonic anhydride and Carbonic dioxide are some other names of carbon dioxide.

Main Differences Between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide

  1. The bond length between carbon and oxygen atom in carbon monoxide is 112.8 pm, whereas in carbon dioxide it is 116.3 pm
  2. The bond between carbon and oxygen atom in carbon monoxide is a triple covalent bond or coordinate covalent bond, whereas in carbon dioxide it is a covalent bond.
  3. Carbon monoxide does not naturally occur in the atmosphere, whereas carbon dioxide naturally occurs in the atmosphere.
  4. Carbon monoxide affects your central nervous system, whereas carbon dioxide affects your respiratory system.
  5. The molecular mass of carbon monoxide is 28.01 g/mol, and the molecular mass of carbon dioxide is 44 g/mol.

Conclusion

Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are two different types of gas. Carbon monoxide is considered as fatal toxicity, whereas carbon dioxide is a poisonous gas. Both have different properties and characteristics. Carbon monoxide is more poisoning in high concentrations. Carbon dioxide will affect your respiratory system. Carbon monoxide is an important factor in industries. Carbon dioxide is naturally occurring in the atmosphere. Carbon monoxide is available in many organisms including human beings. Carbon dioxide is the gas released by plants. Both of them are colorless and odorless gas.

References

  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0039602884905570
  2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0039602880903489