chemistry:acids and bases?

Question

how come carbon monoxide is not an acidic gas?

Answer 1

To answer, first we have to establish what an acid actually is. An acid is roughly defined as a chemical that gives off hydrogen ions in solution and has a pH of 6.9 or less. Which means that in order to be an acid a compound has to contain one or more hydrogen ions (positively chagred), which are usually bonded to one or more negative ions to form the compound. For example Hydrochloric acid (found in stomach acid) or HCl, is formed from a positive hydrogen (H+) ion that is bonded to a negative chlorine (Cl-) ion to form a neutral compound. When dissolved in water the compound breaks up into H+ and Cl- ions, which are very reactive (and thus corrosive) to many substances.

Carbon monoxide, on the other hand, (formula CO) is a gas formed from a single atom of carbon (C) bonded to a single oxygen (O). Since it contains no hydrogen atoms it cannot possess the properties needed to classify it as an acid.

The reason CO is so dangerous is because if inhaled into the lungs it forms a strong bond to the hemoglobin in our red blood cells, which pass through the lungs to pick up oxygen. Hemoglobin is supposed to carry and distribute oxygen throughout the body, but if it is bonded to CO, then it can't bond with oxygen, thus making it unable to do its job. And CO forms a much stronger bond with hemoglobin than does oxygen so it can't be deposited like oxygen can. The more red blood cells that become locked up with carbon monoxide, the less there are to carry oxygen to our vital organs, so it's important to get away from the gas quickly to avoid being suffocated. Problem is the stuff is undetectable to our senses (colorless, odorless, etc.) so it can kill you before you ever know it's there.

Answer 2

It has no H+ to donate.

Answer 3

chemistry.about.com/od/acidsbases