Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a carbon oxide with a chemical formula of CO. It is produced by the partial oxidation of carbon-containing compounds, especially in equipment whose fuel lacks sufficient oxygen, such as boilers, furnaces and defective water heaters. It is an extremely toxic gas, made more dangerous by the fact that it is odorless and colorless, and has a density similar to nitrogen. In industry, carbon monoxide is one of two essential components of syngas (see definition), hydrogen being the other.