Carbon monoxide

CO
CAS Number 630-08-0
UN1016 (gas)

Molecule
Properties
Applications
Safety & Compatibility
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Liquid / Gas Volumes

Calculate the volume or mass of a quantity of gas or liquid

Liquid Phase

At boiling point at 1.013 bar

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Gas Phase

In standard conditions (1.013 bar, 15°C)

m³ (Volume)

kg (Mass)

Physical Properties

Download the set of data (XLS - 69.18 KB)

General Properties
Solid Phase
Liquid Phase
Gas Phase

Molecule phase diagram showing the transition phases between solid, liquid and gas as a function of temperature and pressure

Pressure (bar)

- Molar mass 28.010 g/mol
- Content in dry air /
Critical Point
- Temperature -140.23 °C
- Pressure 34.99 bar
- Density 296.72 kg/m³
Triple Point
- Temperature -204.99 °C
- Pressure 1.53E-1 bar

Pressure 1.013 bar

Latent heat of fusion (at melting point)	30.024 kJ/kg
Melting point	- 205.07 °C

Pressure 1.013 bar

Boiling point	- 191.5 °C
Latent heat of vaporization (at boiling point)	214.68 kJ/kg
Liquid density (at boiling point)	793.2 kg/m³

Pressure 1.013 bar

0 °C
15 °C
25 °C

Compressibility factor Z	9.9934E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.4021
Gas density (at boiling point)	4.36 kg/m³
Gas density	1.2502 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	634.46 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.042 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	7.4316E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Specific gravity	0.97
Specific volume	7.999E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	24.74 mW/(m.K)
Viscosity	1.6515E-4 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.9953E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.4016
Gas density	1.1849 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	669.42 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.042 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	7.4345E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	2.095E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	0.97
Specific volume	8.44E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	25.79 mW/(m.K)
Viscosity	1.7201E-4 Po

Compressibility factor Z	9.9964E-1
Cp/Cv ratio γ	1.4013
Gas density	1.145 kg/m³
Gas/(liquid at boiling point) equivalent	692.75 vol/vol
Heat capacity Cp	1.0421 kJ/(kg.K)
Heat capacity Cv	7.437E-1 kJ/(kg.K)
Solubility in water	1.774E-5 mol/mol
Specific gravity	0.97
Specific volume	8.734E-1 m³/kg
Thermal conductivity	26.478 mW/(m.K)
Viscosity	1.7649E-4 Po

Applications

Examples of uses of this molecule in Industry and Healthcare

Chemicals

Carbon monoxide is an intermediate component used for the synthesis of different valuable products like plastics. As component of the so-called synthetic gas (H2 + CO) it is used to produce methanol and synthetic fuels.

Electronic components

Carbon Monoxide is used is some plasma etching processes.

Food

Carbon monoxide maintains colour of fresh red meat products with Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP).

Hospital care

Carbon monoxyde is a component of gaseous mixtures used for pulmonary function diagnosis tests.

Laboratories & Research Centers

Carbon monoxide is used in calibration gas mixtures for petrochemical industry, environmental emission monitoring, industrial hygiene monitors and trace impurity analyzers.

Pharma & Biotech

Carbon monoxide is used as a reactant in some chemical synthesis processes (e.g. carbonylation reactions).

Safety & Compatibility

Major Hazards
Material Compatibility

GHS02

Flammable

GHS04

Gas under pressure

GHS06

Acute Toxicity

GHS08

Serious health hazard

Autoignition Temperature, Flammability Limits & Flash Point

Europe (according to EN1839 for Limits and EN 14522 for autoignition temperature)

Autoignition temperature (Chemsafe)	605 °C
Lower flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	10.9 vol%
Upper flammability limit (IEC 80079-20-1)	76 vol%

US (according to ASTM E681 for Limits and ASTM E659 for autoignition temperature)

Autoignition temperature (NFPA 325)	609 °C
Lower flammability limit (NFPA 325)	12.5 vol%
Upper flammability limit (NFPA 325)	74 vol%

Threshold of toxicity

ILV-15min EU (at Patm and 293.15 K)	117 mg/m³ or 100 ppm
ILV-8h EU (at Patm and 293.15 K)	23 mg/m³ or 20 ppm
PEL USA OSHA (vol)	50 ppm
VLEP 8h France (at Patm and 293.15 K)	23 mg/m³ or 20 ppm
VLEP CT France (at Patm and 293.15 K)	117 mg/m³ or 100 ppm

Odor

none

Metals

Aluminium	Satisfactory
Brass	Satisfactory
Monel	No data
Copper	No data
Ferritic Steel	Risk of stress corrosion cracking Acceptable
Stainless steel	Satisfactory
Zinc	No data
Titanium	No data

Plastics

Polytetrafluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene	Satisfactory
Polyvinylidene fluoride	Satisfactory
Polyvinyl chloride	Satisfactory
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene	No data
Polycarbonate	No data
Polyamide	Satisfactory
Polypropylene	Satisfactory

Elastomers

Butyl (isobutene- isoprene) rubber	Notable acceleration of the process of ageing Acceptable
Nitrile rubber	Satisfactory
Chloroprene	Satisfactory
Chlorofluorocarbons	No data
Silicone	Satisfactory
Perfluoroelastomers	Significant swelling Acceptable
Fluoroelastomers	Significant swelling Acceptable
Neoprene	No data
Polyurethane	Satisfactory
Ethylene-Propylene	Satisfactory

Lubricants

Hydrocarbon based lubricant	Satisfactory
Fluorocarbon based lubricant	Satisfactory

Materials compatibility

Recommendations : Air Liquide has gathered data on the compatibility of gases with materials to assist you in evaluating which materials to use for a gas system. Although the information has been compiled from what Air Liquide believes are reliable sources (International Standards: Compatibility of cylinder and valve materials with gas content; Part 1- Metallic materials: ISO11114-1 (March 2012), Part 2 - Non-metallic materials: ISO11114-2 (April 2013), it must be used with extreme caution and engineering judgement. No raw data such as these can cover all conditions of concentration, temperature, humidity, impurities and aeration. It is therefore recommended that this table is only used to identify possible materials for applications at high pressure and ambient temperature. Extensive investigation and testing under the specific conditions of use need to be carried out to validate a material selection for a given application. Contact the regional Air Liquide team for expertise service.

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More information

Carbon monoxide is formed from the combination of a carbon atom with an oxygen atom. Not only flammable, it is also very hazardous since it is very toxic and odorless. It is produced, among other ways, from incomplete combustion due to lack of oxygen. It can therefore cause domestic accidents due to poorly maintained heating systems.