Carbon trioxide
Encyclopedia
Carbon trioxide is an unstable oxide
of carbon
(an oxocarbon
). Three possible isomers of carbon trioxide, denoted Cs, D3h, and C2v, have been most studied by theoretical methods, and the C2v state has been shown to be the ground state of the molecule.
Carbon trioxide should not be confused with the stable carbonate
ion (CO32−).
Carbon trioxide can be produced, for example, in the drift zone of a negative corona discharge
by reactions between carbon dioxide
(CO2) and the atomic oxygen (O) created from molecular oxygen by free electrons in the plasma
.
Another reported method is photolysis of ozone O3 dissolved in liquid CO2, or in CO2/SF6
mixtures at -45°C, irradiated with light of 2537 Å
. The formation of CO3 is inferred but it appears to decay spontaneously by the route 2CO3 → 2CO2 + O2 with a lifetime much shorter than 1 minute.
Carbon trioxide can be made by blowing ozone
at dry ice
(solid CO2), and it has also been detected in reactions between carbon monoxide
(CO) and molecular oxygen (O2).
Oxide
An oxide is a chemical compound that contains at least one oxygen atom in its chemical formula. Metal oxides typically contain an anion of oxygen in the oxidation state of −2....
of carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
(an oxocarbon
Oxocarbon
An oxocarbon or oxide of carbon is an inorganic compound consisting only of carbon and oxygen.The simplest and most common oxocarbons are carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide...
). Three possible isomers of carbon trioxide, denoted Cs, D3h, and C2v, have been most studied by theoretical methods, and the C2v state has been shown to be the ground state of the molecule.
Carbon trioxide should not be confused with the stable carbonate
Carbonate
In chemistry, a carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid, characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, . The name may also mean an ester of carbonic acid, an organic compound containing the carbonate group C2....
ion (CO32−).
Carbon trioxide can be produced, for example, in the drift zone of a negative corona discharge
Corona discharge
In electricity, a corona discharge is an electrical discharge brought on by the ionization of a fluid surrounding a conductor that is electrically energized...
by reactions between carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
(CO2) and the atomic oxygen (O) created from molecular oxygen by free electrons in the plasma
Plasma (physics)
In physics and chemistry, plasma is a state of matter similar to gas in which a certain portion of the particles are ionized. Heating a gas may ionize its molecules or atoms , thus turning it into a plasma, which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions...
.
Another reported method is photolysis of ozone O3 dissolved in liquid CO2, or in CO2/SF6
Sulfur hexafluoride
Sulfur hexafluoride is an inorganic, colorless, odorless, and non-flammable greenhouse gas. has an octahedral geometry, consisting of six fluorine atoms attached to a central sulfur atom. It is a hypervalent molecule. Typical for a nonpolar gas, it is poorly soluble in water but soluble in...
mixtures at -45°C, irradiated with light of 2537 Å
Ångström
The angstrom or ångström, is a unit of length equal to 1/10,000,000,000 of a meter . Its symbol is the Swedish letter Å....
. The formation of CO3 is inferred but it appears to decay spontaneously by the route 2CO3 → 2CO2 + O2 with a lifetime much shorter than 1 minute.
Carbon trioxide can be made by blowing ozone
Ozone
Ozone , or trioxygen, is a triatomic molecule, consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an allotrope of oxygen that is much less stable than the diatomic allotrope...
at dry ice
Dry ice
Dry ice, sometimes referred to as "Cardice" or as "card ice" , is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It is used primarily as a cooling agent. Its advantages include lower temperature than that of water ice and not leaving any residue...
(solid CO2), and it has also been detected in reactions between carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide , also called carbonous oxide, is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is slightly lighter than air. It is highly toxic to humans and animals in higher quantities, although it is also produced in normal animal metabolism in low quantities, and is thought to have some normal...
(CO) and molecular oxygen (O2).