Carbon Monoxide Essay Example

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that cannot be seen, tasted or smelled. It is slightly less dense than air and has the potential to be harmful to humans and animals when present in high concentrations. Accidental poisoning from CO causes up to 430 deaths annually in the US. However, this gas is also produced naturally during animal metabolism and contributes to ground-level ozone formation in the atmosphere. CO consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond resulting in polarization with a small negative charge on carbon and a small positive charge on oxygen. Lack of sufficient oxygen for partial oxidation of carbon-containing compounds generates CO, such as inside enclosed spaces with stoves or engines. When there's enough atmospheric oxygen concentration alongside it, CO burns with blue flame