Which statement describes carbon monoxide's properties?

Which statement describes carbon monoxide's properties?

• A. Tasteless, odorless, colorless, combustible, poisonous
• B. Has a strong odor
• C. Visible as a colored gas
• D. Gas is neon

Answer: (A)

Carbon monoxide has properties that you can’t detect by senses: it is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, yet it is combustible and poisonous. That combination means you can have a dangerous gas without any warning signs, which is why ventilation and CO detectors are essential in mine environments. It’s produced by incomplete combustion of fuels and can burn in air to form carbon dioxide. The other statements don’t fit because CO does not have a strong odor, is not visible or colored, and neon is a different gas altogether.

Carbon monoxide has properties that you can’t detect by senses: it is tasteless, odorless, and colorless, yet it is combustible and poisonous. That combination means you can have a dangerous gas without any warning signs, which is why ventilation and CO detectors are essential in mine environments. It’s produced by incomplete combustion of fuels and can burn in air to form carbon dioxide. The other statements don’t fit because CO does not have a strong odor, is not visible or colored, and neon is a different gas altogether.