CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
| Physical Description | Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas. Prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide rich atmospheres may be fatal. It is easily ignited. It is just lighter than air and a flame can flash back to the source of leak very easily. Under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat the containers may violently rupture and rocket. |
|---|---|
| Color/Form | Colorless gas [Note: Shipped as a nonliquefied or liquefied compressed gas]. |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Taste | Tasteless |
| Boiling Point | -312.7 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999) |
| Melting Point | -326 °F (USCG, 1999) |
| Flash Point | Flammable gas |
| Solubility | 2 % (NIOSH, 2023) |
| Density | 0.791 at -312.7 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float |
| Vapor Density | 0.97 (NIOSH, 2023) - Lighter than air; will rise (Relative to Air) |
| Vapor Pressure | greater than 35 atm (NIOSH, 2023) |
| LogP | 0.83 |
| Henry's Law Constant | Henry's Law constant = 1.04 atm-cu m/mol at 25 °C (reported as 57978.5 atm/mol fraction) |
| Autoignition Temperature | 1128 °F (USCG, 1999) |
| Viscosity | Viscosity gas at 273 K = 16.62 uN s/sq m |
| Heat of Combustion | -4.343 BTU/lb = -2,412 cal/g = -101X10+5 joules/kg |
| Heat of Vaporization | Latent: 92.8 BTU/lb = 51.6 cal/g = 2.16X10+5 joules/kg |
| Surface Tension | 9.8 mN/m (of the liquid at 80 K) |
| Ionization Potential | 14.01 eV |
| Refractive Index | Refractive index of gas = 1.0003364 at 273 K and 546.1 nm |
| Other Experimental Properties | Decomposes into carbon and carbon dioxide at 400-700 °C, at lower temperatures when in contact with catalytic surfaces |
| Chemical Classes | Toxic Gases & Vapors -> Chemical Asphyxiants |
SAFETY INFORMATION
| Signal word | Danger |
|---|---|
| Pictogram(s) |
![]() Flame Flammables GHS02 ![]() Gas Cylinder Compressed Gases GHS04 ![]() Skull and Crossbones Acute Toxicity GHS06 ![]() Health Hazard GHS08 |
| GHS Hazard Statements |
H220:Flammable gases H280:Gases under pressure H331:Acute toxicity,inhalation H372:Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure |
| Precautionary Statement Codes |
P202:Do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood. P210:Keep away from heat/sparks/open flames/hot surfaces. — No smoking. P308+P313:IF exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention. P403+P233:Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed. P410+P403:Protect from sunlight. Store in a well-ventilated place. |
COMPUTED DESCRIPTORS
| Molecular Weight | 28.010 g/mol |
|---|---|
| XLogP3 | 0.7 |
| Hydrogen Bond Donor Count | 0 |
| Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count | 1 |
| Rotatable Bond Count | 0 |
| Exact Mass | 27.994914619 g/mol |
| Monoisotopic Mass | 27.994914619 g/mol |
| Topological Polar Surface Area | 1 Ų |
| Heavy Atom Count | 2 |
| Formal Charge | 0 |
| Complexity | 10 |
| Isotope Atom Count | 0 |
| Defined Atom Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Defined Bond Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count | 0 |
| Covalently-Bonded Unit Count | 1 |
| Compound Is Canonicalized | Yes |
PRODUCT INTRODUCTION
description
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, nonirritating, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is found in both outdoor and indoor air.




