Oxides of Carbon

As everyone knows, carbon is the most essential and crucial element of chemistry. Owing to its chain properties, it forms bonds and compounds with numerous substances. In this article, we are going to learn about oxides of carbon. In a nutshell, oxides of carbons can be defined as the bond of carbon with oxygen atoms. Also, these carbon oxides have a novel set of properties. All the aspects of carbon oxides, including their properties and types, are discussed in detail in this Oxides of Carbon Study Material.

About Oxides of Carbon

Carbon, being the element of group 14 of the periodic table, forms many compounds with oxygen called oxides of carbon. Therefore we can say that carbon oxides are those organic compounds consisting exclusively of carbon and oxygen. Commonly found carbon oxides are carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2). However, many other unstable or metastable oxides are known to exist. Carbon suboxide (C3O2), Mellitic anhydride (C12O9), Benzoquinone tetra-carboxylic dianhydride (C10O8) are some of them. 

The types of carbon oxides are linear oxides having linear structure cyclic polyketones that are considered cyclic polymers of carbon monoxide, however volatile and some of them possibly not found. Other members are polymers of carbon oxides. They have a 3:2 carbon-oxygen ratio and Fullerene oxides and ozonides enclosed cyclic structures. Many oxides are stable at room temperature, but many are only stable at lower temperatures. Usually gaseous, many of the oxides are toxic to human beings.

Uses of Oxides of Carbon

The uses of oxides of the carbon lie in its stability. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are known to have many uses, like precursors for the formation of many other compounds like aldehydes, phosgene, etc. Carbon dioxide is the food for plants and the reason for the existence of humankind. It is also one of the important greenhouse gases. Other important uses of carbon dioxide are fermentation, fire extinguishers, etc.

Properties of Oxides of Carbon

The two principal oxides of carbon- Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide have slightly different properties. However, they are also similar in some of the characteristics. Carbon monoxide is bonded with a triple bond and has no taste or odour. It is found in the gaseous state and is toxic for humans. However, it is also produced in minute quantities in metabolism. The other oxide of carbon- Carbon dioxide is a tasteless and colourless gas that is slightly acidic. CO2 is not usually toxic but can be suffocating in larger quantities.

Types of Carbon Oxides

• Carbon Monoxide

The simplest oxide of carbon formed by a triple bond with oxygen is carbon monoxide. It is usually stable at room temperature, and is colourless, tasteless, and odourless. It is formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances and iron smelting. It is highly poisonous for humans as it replaces oxygen attached with haemoglobin and can cause choking to death.

• Carbon Dioxide 

Carbon dioxide is abundantly found in nature. The most common of them is carbon dioxide which is CO2. Carbon forms two double bonds with oxygen molecules to complete its valency. It is continuously added to the atmosphere through respiration by living beings. It is an important greenhouse gas and is also produced upon combustion of carbon-containing substances. Some other kinds of carbon dioxide are ethylene dione (C2O2), carbon suboxide (C3O2), etc.

• Fullerene Oxides and Ozonides 

Fullerenes are allotropes of carbon forming closed network-like structures. The mesh has 5-6 carbon rings attached with the other ring forming web-like or spherical, tube-like, etc., structures. These fullerenes are photo oxidised. They react with ozone to form Fullerene oxide and Fullerene ozonides.

• Polymeric Carbon Oxides 

One carbon oxide- Carbon suboxide, sometimes polymerizes to form carbon oxide polymers having a 3:2 carbon-oxygen ratio. It can contain up to 5-6 units of oxides. This characteristic of oxides can be used to form some degradable polymers having many uses.

• Other Oxides

Many other new oxides are also being found. Some are stable, and some are metastable, like Ethylene-tetra-carboxylic dianhydride (C6O6), a stable molecule Hexoxotricyclobuta benzene (C12O6), etc. Some oxides also form cyclic structures like benzene.

Conclusion

From all the above, we came through the various aspects of carbon oxides, and we covered their properties and types along with all the general information about them. We learned that oxides of carbons are the molecules that exclusively have one carbon and other oxygen molecules bonded with each other. Apart from this, we also came through their essential properties, including stability. There are two significant oxides of carbon, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, major oxide gases used in our day-to-day lives. Lastly, several other carbon oxides were also discussed briefly in this oxides of carbon study material.