Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, toxic combustion product commonly known as carbon monoxide. Heavier or lighter than air, this substance depends on external conditions. Most often, it is formed during the combustion of carbon in an environment poor in oxygen. If a fire occurs in a closed unventilated room, people die from poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, so it cannot be felt.

Properties of carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide has been known to people since ancient times because of its toxic properties. The total use of stove heating often led to poisoning and death. Those who covered the chimney damper for the night with the coals in the furnace not yet burnt out were in danger of getting burned.

The insidiousness of carbon monoxide is that it is colorless and odorless. The density of carbon monoxide relative to air is slightly less, so it rises. During the combustion of fuel, carbon © is oxidized by oxygen (O), and released carbon dioxide(CO2). It is harmless to humans and is even used in the food industry, in the production of soda and dry ice.

This video will tell you how to survive on your own and provide first aid to a victim of carbon monoxide poisoning:

In the case when the reaction occurs with insufficient oxygen, only one oxygen molecule is attached to each carbon molecule. The output is CO - toxic and combustible carbon monoxide.

Toxicity and symptoms of poisoning

Quite often, the excess of this indicator can be found in major cities, which, of course, may well be the cause of people's poor health

The toxicity of carbon monoxide is due to its ability to form a stable compound with hemoglobin in human blood. As a result, oxygen starvation of the body occurs on cellular level. Without timely medical care, irreversible changes in tissues and death are possible.

First of all, the central nervous system suffers. Damage to nerve tissues as a result of hypoxia leads to the development of neurological disorders, which may appear some time after poisoning.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is an acute pathological condition that develops as a result of the ingress of carbon monoxide into the human body.

You can get carbon monoxide intoxication in such situations:

1. In the event of an indoor fire.
2. Chemical production, where carbon monoxide is widely used.
3. When using open gas appliances and insufficient ventilation.
4. Long stay on the highway with heavy traffic.
5. In the garage with the engine running.
6. If the stove is used incorrectly, if the dampers close before all the coals have burned out.
7. Smoking hookah can cause symptoms of poisoning.

The specific gravity of air and carbon monoxide is almost the same, but the latter is slightly lighter, due to which it initially accumulates near the ceiling. This property is used when installing sensors that signal danger. They are located at the highest point of the room.

It is very important to recognize poisoning in a timely manner and take measures to save yourself and others. There are a number of symptoms inherent in carbon monoxide intoxication:

• pain and heaviness in the head;
• heart palpitations;
• increase in pressure;
• a knock is heard in the temples;
• peculiar dry cough;
• nausea rolls up;
• vomiting begins;
• pain in the chest area;
• skin and mucous membranes visibly redden;
• possible hallucinations.

As a preventive measure to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, you should: regularly check, clean and timely repair ventilation shafts, chimneys and heating appliances

Detection in oneself or other similar symptoms indicates the initial stage of poisoning.

Moderate severity is characterized by drowsiness and severe tinnitus, as well as motor paralysis, while the victim still does not lose consciousness.

Symptoms of severe intoxication:

• the victim loses consciousness and falls into a coma;
• incontinence of urine and feces;
• muscle cramps;
• permanent respiratory failure;
• blue color of the skin and mucous membranes;
• dilated pupils and no reaction to light.

A person cannot help himself in any way and death finds him at the scene.

First aid and treatment

Regardless of the severity, carbon monoxide damage requires immediate medical attention. If it is possible to walk independently, you must immediately leave the affected area. Victims unable to move are put on gas masks and urgently evacuated from the affected area.

In case of carbon monoxide poisoning, immediately call an ambulance

First aid consists of the following actions:

1. It is necessary to free a person from constraining clothing.
2. Warm up and let breathe pure oxygen.
3. Irradiate with ultraviolet radiation using a quartz lamp.
4. If necessary, artificial respiration and cardiac massage are performed.
5. Give a sniff of ammonia.
6. Get to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.

In the hospital, therapy will be carried out aimed at removing the toxin from the body. Then a full examination is carried out to identify possible complications. After that, a series of restoration measures are carried out.

To avoid the troubles and tragedies associated with intoxication, It is recommended to follow simple preventive measures:

Victims due to carbon monoxide poisoning should be removed to fresh air or the room thoroughly ventilated.

1. Keep the inside of the chimney clean.
2. Always check the condition of the air dampers in stoves and fireplaces.
3. Well ventilate rooms with open gas burners.
4. Observe safety rules when working with a car in a garage.
5. In case of contact with carbon monoxide, take an antidote.

Air is heavier than carbon monoxide in terms of molar mass per unit. Their specific gravity and density differ little. Carbon monoxide is detrimental to the human body. Poisoning statistics show that the peak of accidents occurs in the winter.

Let's try to understand and remember the knowledge of physics and chemistry.

Carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide, chemical formula CO) is a gaseous compound formed during combustion of any kind.

What happens when this substance enters the body?

After entering the respiratory tract, carbon monoxide molecules immediately appear in the blood and bind to hemoglobin molecules. A completely new substance is formed - carboxyhemoglobin, which prevents the transport of oxygen. For this reason, oxygen deficiency develops very quickly.

The most important danger is that carbon monoxide is invisible and in no way noticeable, it has neither smell nor color, that is, the cause of the ailment is not obvious, it is not always possible to detect it right away. Carbon monoxide cannot be felt in any way, which is why its second name is the silent killer.

Feeling fatigue, loss of strength and dizziness, a person makes a fatal mistake - he decides to lie down. And, even if he then understands the reason and the need to go out into the air, as a rule, he is not able to do anything. Many could be saved by knowledge of the symptoms of CO poisoning - knowing them, it is possible to suspect the cause of the ailment in time and take the necessary measures to save.

What are the symptoms and signs of carbon monoxide poisoning

The severity of the injury depends on several factors:

• - the state of health and physiological characteristics of a person. Weakened, with chronic diseases, especially those accompanied by anemia, the elderly, pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the effects of CO;
• - the duration of the effect of the CO compound on the body;
• is the concentration of carbon monoxide in the inhaled air;
• - physical activity during poisoning. The higher the activity, the faster the poisoning occurs.

Three degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning by symptoms

Light degree severity is characterized by the following symptoms: general weakness; headaches, mainly in the frontal and temporal regions; knocking in the temples; noise in ears; dizziness; blurred vision - flickering, dots before the eyes; unproductive, i.e. dry cough; rapid breathing; shortness of breath, shortness of breath; lacrimation; nausea; hyperemia (redness) of the skin and mucous membranes; tachycardia; increase in blood pressure.

Symptoms medium degree severity is the preservation of all the symptoms of the previous stage and their more severe form: clouding of consciousness, loss of consciousness on a short time; vomit; hallucinations, both visual and auditory; violation of the vestibular apparatus, uncoordinated movements; pressing chest pains.

Severe degree poisoning is characterized by the following symptoms: paralysis; long-term loss of consciousness, coma; convulsions; pupil dilation; involuntary emptying of the bladder and intestines; increased heart rate up to 130 beats per minute, but at the same time it is weakly palpable; cyanosis (blue) of the skin and mucous membranes; breathing disorders - it becomes superficial and intermittent.

Atypical forms of carbon monoxide poisoning

There are two of them - fainting and euphoric.

Symptoms of fainting form: pallor of the skin and mucous membranes; lowering blood pressure; loss of consciousness.

Symptoms of the euphoric form: psychomotor agitation; violation of mental functions: delirium, hallucinations, laughter, oddities in behavior; loss of consciousness; respiratory and heart failure.

How to give first aid to victims of carbon monoxide poisoning

It is very important to provide first aid promptly, as irreversible consequences occur very quickly.

First of all, Remove the victim to fresh air as soon as possible. In cases where this is difficult, then the victim should be put on a gas mask with a hopcalite cartridge as soon as possible, and given an oxygen cushion.

Secondly, it is necessary to facilitate breathing - to clear the airways, if necessary, unbutton the clothes, lay the victim on his side in order to prevent a possible sinking of the tongue.

Thirdly- stimulate breathing. Bring ammonia, rub the chest, warm the limbs. And most importantly - you need to call an ambulance. Even if a person at first glance is in a satisfactory condition, it is necessary that he be examined by a doctor, since it is not always possible to determine the true degree of poisoning only by symptoms. In addition, timely initiated therapeutic measures will reduce the risk of complications and mortality from carbon monoxide poisoning. If the victim is in a serious condition, it is necessary to carry out resuscitation measures before the arrival of doctors.

When is there a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning?

In our time, cases of poisoning happen a little less often than in those days when residential heating was predominantly stove, but there are still enough sources of increased risk now. Potential sources of danger of carbon monoxide poisoning: houses with stove heating, fireplaces. Improper operation increases the risk of carbon monoxide penetration into the room, thus fading away in houses with entire families; baths, saunas, especially those that heat “on black”; garages; in industries using carbon monoxide; long stay near major roads; fire in a closed room (elevator, shaft, and other rooms that cannot be left without outside help).

Only numbers

• A mild degree of poisoning occurs already at a concentration of carbon monoxide of 0.08% - there is a headache, dizziness, suffocation, general weakness.
• An increase in CO concentration to 0.32% causes motor paralysis and fainting. Death occurs in about half an hour.
• At a CO concentration of 1.2% or more, a lightning-fast form of poisoning develops - in a couple of breaths a person receives a lethal dose, a lethal outcome occurs after a maximum of 3 minutes.
• Car exhaust contains 1.5 to 3% carbon monoxide. Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to get poisoned while the engine is running not only indoors, but also outdoors.
• About two and a half thousand people in Russia are annually hospitalized with varying degrees of severity of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Prevention measures

In order to minimize the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, it is enough to observe the following rules:

• - operate stoves and fireplaces in accordance with the rules, regularly check the operation of the ventilation system and clean the chimney in a timely manner, and trust the laying of stoves and fireplaces only to professionals;
• - do not stay near busy roads for a long time;
• - always turn off the engine of the car in a closed garage. In order for the concentration of carbon monoxide to become lethal, only five minutes of engine operation is enough - remember this;
• - at long stay in the car, and even more so when sleeping in the car - always turn off the engine
• - make it a rule - if you experience symptoms that can be suspected of carbon monoxide poisoning, provide fresh air as soon as possible by opening the windows, or rather leave the room.

GENERAL INFORMATION

empirical formula. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SO

Molecular weight, kg/kmol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..28.01

State of aggregation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . gaseous

Appearance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .colorless gas

Smell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . without smell.

Application: as one of the starting compounds that underlie the modern industry of organic synthesis. Used to reduce metals from oxides, to obtain metal carbonyls, phosgene, carbon sulphide, aluminum chloride, methyl alcohol, formamide, aromatic aldehydes, formic acid, etc.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Density at 0 °C and pressure 101.3 kPa, kg/m3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,250

Density at 20 °C and pressure 101.3 kPa, kg/m3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.165

Boiling point, °C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . minus 192

Melting point at a pressure of 101.3 kPa, °C. . . . . . . . . . . .minus 205

Critical temperature, °С. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . minus 138.7

Critical pressure, MPa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.5

Heat of combustion, kJ/mol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . minus 283

Specific heat of combustion, kJ/mol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10107

Heat of formation, kJ/mol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . minus 110.5

Heat capacity of gas at 0°С and constant pressure, kJ/(kg? deg) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0416

Heat capacity of gas at 0°С and constant volume, kJ/(kg? deg) . . . .0.7434

Dynamic viscosity, N?s/m2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166.04?107

Kinematic viscosity, m2/s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.55?106

The coefficient of thermal conductivity of gas at 0 ° C and a pressure of 101.3 kPa, W / (m? K). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.0233

:

*t - solid.

Solubility in water: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . soluble

Reactivity: relatively well soluble, especially under pressure, in solutions of dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), ammonium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid. At low temperatures carbon monoxide is quite inert; at high levels, it easily enters into various reactions, especially in addition reactions. Has restorative properties.

Oxidizes in CO2 at room temperature.

SANITARY AND HYGIENIC CHARACTERISTICS

CAS registration number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 630-08-0

MPCm.r. in the air of the working area, mg/m3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20*

Air pollutant code: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0337

Hazard class in atmospheric air. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

MPCm.r./d.s. in atmospheric air, mg/m3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5/3

* - When the duration of work in an atmosphere containing carbon monoxide is not more than 1 hour, the MPC of carbon monoxide can be increased to 50 mg / m3, with a duration of work not more than 30 minutes. - up to 100 mg / m3, with a duration of work no more than 15 minutes. – 200 mg/m3. Repeated work under conditions of high content of carbon monoxide in the air of the working area can be carried out with a break of at least 2 hours.

Impact on people: a toxic substance, refers to substances with a highly directed mechanism of action, requiring automatic control of its content in the air. toxic effect on the central nervous system.

First aid measures for those affected by exposure to the substance: fresh air, free from clothing that restricts breathing, rest, warming. Severe and moderate poisoning is treated in a hospital.

Precautions: local exhaust devices and general ventilation of the premises are required. Sealing equipment and communications. Constant monitoring of the concentration in the air of the working area, the use of automatic devices and signaling devices.

Means of protection: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . filter gas mask.

FIRE AND EXPLOSION PROPERTIES

Flammability group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . combustible gas (GG)

Self-ignition temperature, °С. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 605

Concentration limits of flame propagation, % (vol.) . . 12.5-74

Minimum explosive oxygen content, % (vol.) when diluted:

nitrogen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.6

Carbon dioxide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.9

Maximum explosion pressure, kPa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 730

Safe experimental maximum clearance, mm. . . . . . . . . . 0.84

Explosive mixture group according to GOST R 51330.5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T1

Fire-fighting equipment: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . inert gases.

Carbon monoxide, or carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. It burns with a blue flame like hydrogen. Because of this, chemists confused it with hydrogen in 1776 when they first made carbon monoxide by heating zinc oxide with carbon. The molecule of this gas has a strong triple bond, like the nitrogen molecule. That is why there is some similarity between them: the melting and boiling points are almost the same. The carbon monoxide molecule has a high ionization potential.

Oxidized, carbon monoxide forms carbon dioxide. This reaction releases a large amount of heat energy. That is why carbon monoxide is used in heating systems.

Carbon monoxide at low temperatures almost does not react with other substances, in the case of high temperatures the situation is different. The reactions of addition of various organic matter. A mixture of CO and oxygen in certain proportions is very dangerous because of the possibility of its explosion.

Obtaining carbon monoxide

AT laboratory conditions carbon monoxide is produced by decomposition. It occurs under the influence of hot concentrated sulfuric acid, or when it is passed through phosphorus oxide. Another way is that a mixture of formic and oxalic acids is heated to a certain temperature. The liberated CO can be removed from this mixture by passing it through barite water ( saturated solution ).

The danger of carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous to humans. It causes severe poisoning, often can cause death. The thing is that carbon monoxide has the ability to react with blood hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to all cells of the body. As a result of this reaction, carbohemoglobin is formed. Due to the lack of oxygen, the cells experience starvation.

The following symptoms of poisoning can be distinguished: nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of color perception, respiratory distress, and others. A person who has been poisoned by carbon monoxide needs first aid as soon as possible. First, you need to pull it out into fresh air and put a cotton swab dipped in ammonia to your nose. Next, rub the chest of the victim and apply heating pads to his legs. Plentiful warm drink is recommended. It is necessary to immediately after the discovery of symptoms to call a doctor.

Content

Signs that carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide (II), carbon monoxide, carbon monoxide) has formed in the air in dangerous concentrations are difficult to determine - invisible, may not smell, accumulates in the room gradually, imperceptibly. It is extremely dangerous for human life: it has a high toxicity, excessive content in the lungs leads to severe poisoning and death. Every year, a high death rate from gas poisoning is recorded. The risk of poisoning can be reduced by following simple rules and the use of special carbon monoxide sensors.

What is carbon monoxide

Natural gas is formed during the combustion of any biomass, in industry it is a combustion product of any carbon-based compounds. In both cases, a prerequisite for gas evolution is a lack of oxygen. Large volumes of it enter the atmosphere as a result of forest fires, in the form of exhaust gases generated during the combustion of fuel in car engines. For industrial purposes, it is used in the production of organic alcohol, sugar, processing of animal meat and fish. A small amount of monoxide is also produced by the cells of the human body.

Properties

In terms of monoxide chemistry - inorganic compound with a single oxygen atom in the molecule, the chemical formula is CO. This is Chemical substance, which does not have a characteristic color, taste and smell, it is lighter than air, but heavier than hydrogen, is inactive at room temperature. A person who smells, feels only the presence of organic impurities in the air. Belongs to the category of toxic products, death at a concentration in the air of 0.1% occurs within one hour. The characteristic of the maximum permissible concentration is 20 mg / m3.

The effect of carbon monoxide on the human body

For humans, carbon monoxide is a deadly hazard. Its toxic effect is explained by the formation of carboxyhemoglobin in blood cells, a product of the addition of carbon monoxide (II) to blood hemoglobin. A high level of carboxyhemoglobin causes oxygen starvation, insufficient oxygen supply to the brain and other tissues of the body. With mild intoxication, its content in the blood is low, destruction in a natural way is possible within 4-6 hours. At high concentrations, only medications work.

Carbon monoxide poisoning

Carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous substances. In case of poisoning, intoxication of the body occurs, accompanied by a deterioration in the general condition of a person. It is very important to recognize the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning early. The result of treatment depends on the level of the substance in the body and on how soon help arrived. In this case, minutes count - the victim can either recover completely, or remain sick forever (it all depends on the speed of the rescuers' response).

Symptoms

Depending on the degree of poisoning, headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, heart palpitations, nausea, shortness of breath, flickering in the eyes, general weakness can be observed. Drowsiness is often observed, which is especially dangerous when a person is in a gassed room. In case of inhalation a large number toxic substances there are convulsions, loss of consciousness, in especially severe cases - coma.

First aid for carbon monoxide poisoning

First aid should be provided to the victim on the spot in case of carbon monoxide poisoning. It is necessary to immediately move it to fresh air and call a doctor. You should also remember about your safety: you need to enter a room with a source of this substance only by inhaling deeply, do not breathe inside. Until the doctor arrives, it is necessary to facilitate the access of oxygen to the lungs: unfasten buttons, remove or loosen clothes. If the victim has lost consciousness and stopped breathing, artificial ventilation of the lungs is necessary.

Antidote for poisoning

A special antidote (antidote) for carbon monoxide poisoning is a drug that actively prevents the formation of carboxyhemoglobin. The action of the antidote leads to a decrease in the body's need for oxygen, support for organs that are sensitive to a lack of oxygen: the brain, liver, etc. It is administered intramuscularly at a dosage of 1 ml immediately after the patient is removed from the area with a high concentration of toxic substances. You can re-enter the antidote no earlier than an hour after the first injection. It can be used for prevention.

Treatment

In the case of mild exposure to carbon monoxide, treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis, in severe cases, the patient is hospitalized. Already in the ambulance, he is given an oxygen bag or mask. In severe cases, in order to give the body a large dose of oxygen, the patient is placed in a pressure chamber. An antidote is administered intramuscularly. The level of gas in the blood is constantly monitored. Further rehabilitation is medical, the actions of doctors are aimed at restoring the functioning of the brain, cardiovascular system, and lungs.

Effects

The impact of carbon monoxide on the body can cause serious diseases: brain performance, behavior, human consciousness change, inexplicable headaches appear. Memory is especially affected by harmful substances - that part of the brain that is responsible for the transition of short-term memory to long-term memory. The patient may feel the consequences of carbon monoxide poisoning only after a few weeks. Most victims fully recover after a period of rehabilitation, but some feel the consequences for a lifetime.

How to detect carbon monoxide in a room

Carbon monoxide poisoning is easy at home, and it doesn't just happen during a fire. The concentration of carbon monoxide is formed by careless handling of the stove damper, during the operation of a faulty geyser or ventilation. A gas stove can be a source of carbon monoxide. If there is smoke in the room, this is already a reason to sound the alarm. For constant monitoring of the gas level, there are special sensors. They monitor the level of gas concentration and report the excess of the norm. The presence of such a device reduces the risk of poisoning.

Video

Attention! The information presented in the article is for informational purposes only. The materials of the article do not call for self-treatment. Only a qualified doctor can make a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment based on individual features specific patient.

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