Safety data for carbon monoxide

Hazard: Toxic Hazard: highly flammable

Glossary of terms on this data sheet.

The information on this web page is provided to help you to work safely, but it is intended to be an overview of hazards, not a replacement for a full Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). MSDS forms can be downloaded from the web sites of many chemical suppliers.

General

Physical data

Appearance: Colourless gas
Melting point: -205 C
Critical temperature -140 C
Boiling point: -192 C
Specific gravity:
Vapour pressure:
Flash point:
Explosion limits: 12.5 - 74 vol% in air
Autoignition temperature 620 C

Stability

Stable. May react violently with oxidants; readily forms an explosive mixture with air. Extremely flammable. Note the wide explosion limits.

Toxicology

Toxic by inhalation. Odourless and colourless, so no indication exists of its presence in a room. May impair fertility or cause harm to the unborn child. Delayed adverse effects possible. Typical LTEL 50 ppm, typical STEL 300 ppm.

Risk phrases
(The meaning of any risk phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
R12 R23 R33 R48 R61.

Personal protection

The use of effective ventilation, such as a good fume hood, is essential.

Safety phrases
(The meaning of any safety phrases which appear in this section is given here.)
S9 S16 S33 S45 S53.

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This information was last updated on September 4, 2003. Although we have tried to make it as accurate and useful as possible, we can take no responsibility for its use or misuse.

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