CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Carbon monoxide is found in almost all ways that energy is created, as a by-product of the chemical reaction. It can be found from car emissions, gas stoves, furnaces and fires etc. Carbon monoxide can pool up in a home is it is not ventilated properly, or if it is left running for a long time. For example, during the ice storm of 2013, hundreds of Torontonians died due to carbon monoxide poisoning as they used a kitchen range to heat their home while they lacked electricity.
Balanced chemical equations
The following are balanced chemical equations, displaying different ways that carbon monoxide is created. Carbon monoxide is represented by "CO" in the equations, and is highlighted in red.
Creating Carbon monoxide from Carbon dioxide and Carbon:
Hydrochloric acid combusted with Calcium carbonate produces Calcium chloride, water and Carbon dioxide gas.
1. 2HCl(aq) + CaCO3 (s) = CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2 (g)
Carbon dioxide gas combusted with solid carbon produces carbon monoxide gas.
2. CO2(g) + C(s) = 2CO(g)
Carbon monoxide as a by-product of a hydrocarbon fuel:
Methane, oxygen gas, nitrogen and hydrosulphuric acid combust and produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, sulphur dioxide and energy
CH4 + 2O2 + N2 +H2S = 2H2O + CO2 + CO + NO + NO2 + SO2 + Energy
Carbon monoxide created as a result of a lack of oxygen:
Menthane gas and oxygen gas combust to create carbon monoxide and water
If there is not enough oxygen during combustion of a hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide can be created, instead of carbon dioxide.
CH4 + O2 = CO + H2O (unbalanced)
2CH4 + 3O2 = 2CO + 4H2O (balanced)
Creating Carbon monoxide from Carbon dioxide and Carbon:
Hydrochloric acid combusted with Calcium carbonate produces Calcium chloride, water and Carbon dioxide gas.
1. 2HCl(aq) + CaCO3 (s) = CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2 (g)
Carbon dioxide gas combusted with solid carbon produces carbon monoxide gas.
2. CO2(g) + C(s) = 2CO(g)
Carbon monoxide as a by-product of a hydrocarbon fuel:
Methane, oxygen gas, nitrogen and hydrosulphuric acid combust and produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen monoxide, sulphur dioxide and energy
CH4 + 2O2 + N2 +H2S = 2H2O + CO2 + CO + NO + NO2 + SO2 + Energy
Carbon monoxide created as a result of a lack of oxygen:
Menthane gas and oxygen gas combust to create carbon monoxide and water
If there is not enough oxygen during combustion of a hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide can be created, instead of carbon dioxide.
CH4 + O2 = CO + H2O (unbalanced)
2CH4 + 3O2 = 2CO + 4H2O (balanced)
Word equation for a chemical reaction
A word equation is an equation that uses words to describe a chemical reaction. Carbon monoxide is highlighted in red.
Carbon monoxide created by petrol burning, and exhaust from a car engine:
Methane and oxygen combust to create carbon monoxide and water
Methane (g) + Oxygen (g) = Carbon monoxide (g) + Water (l)
Typical car engine combustion process:
Fuel and air combusts and produces hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and water
Fuel (g) + Air (g) = Hydrocarbons (g) + Nitrogen Oxides (g) + Carbon Dioxide (g) + Carbon Monoxide (g) + Sulphur Dioxide (g) + water (l)
Carbon monoxide created by petrol burning, and exhaust from a car engine:
Methane and oxygen combust to create carbon monoxide and water
Methane (g) + Oxygen (g) = Carbon monoxide (g) + Water (l)
Typical car engine combustion process:
Fuel and air combusts and produces hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and water
Fuel (g) + Air (g) = Hydrocarbons (g) + Nitrogen Oxides (g) + Carbon Dioxide (g) + Carbon Monoxide (g) + Sulphur Dioxide (g) + water (l)
Skeleton equation for a chemical reaction
A skeleton equation is an equation that uses element symbols and compound symbols to describe a chemical reaction. Carbon monoxide is represented by "CO" in the equations, and it highlighted in red.
Carbon monoxide created as a by-product from burning petrol:
Methane and oxygen combust to create carbon monoxide and water
CH4(g) + O2(g) = CO(g) + H2O(l)
Carbon monoxide created as a by-product from a typical car engine combustion process:
Fuel and air combusts and produces hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and water
Fuel + Air = Hydrocarbons + N2O(g) + CO2(g) + CO(g) + SO2(g) + H2O
Carbon monoxide created as a by-product from burning petrol:
Methane and oxygen combust to create carbon monoxide and water
CH4(g) + O2(g) = CO(g) + H2O(l)
Carbon monoxide created as a by-product from a typical car engine combustion process:
Fuel and air combusts and produces hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and water
Fuel + Air = Hydrocarbons + N2O(g) + CO2(g) + CO(g) + SO2(g) + H2O
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