 | |
 The Cs, D3h, and C2v isomers of carbon trioxide | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC names Carbon trioxide C2v isomer:
D3h isomer:
| |
| Systematic IUPAC name C2v isomer:
D3h isomer:
| |
| Other names Cs isomer:
| |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| |
| |
| Properties | |
| CO3 | |
| Molar mass | 60.008 g·mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Carbon trioxide (CO3) is an unstableoxide ofcarbon (anoxocarbon). The possibleisomers of carbon trioxide include ones withmolecular symmetry point groupsCs,D3h, andC2v. TheC2v state, consisting of adioxirane, has been shown to be theground state of the molecule.[1] Carbon trioxide should not be confused with the stablecarbonate ion (CO2−
3).
Carbon trioxide can be produced, for example, in the drift zone of a negativecorona discharge by reactions betweencarbon dioxide (CO2) and theatomic oxygen (O) created from molecular oxygen by free electrons in theplasma.[2] Another reported method isphotolysis of ozone O3 dissolved in liquid CO2, or in CO2/SF6 mixtures at −45 °C (228 K; −49 °F), irradiated with light of 253.7 nm. The formation of CO3 is inferred but it appears to decay spontaneously by the route
with a lifetime much shorter than 1 minute.[3] Carbon trioxide can be made by blowingozone atdry ice (solid CO2), and it has also been detected in reactions betweencarbon monoxide (CO) andmolecular oxygen (O2). Along with the ground state C2visomer,[4] the firstspectroscopic detection of the D3h isomer was in electron-irradiated ices ofcarbon dioxide.[5]