People have worked with carbon monoxide and hydrogen mixtures for well over a century. Synthetic gas, or syngas as many call it, got its break in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Early chemists and engineers in Europe, especially in Germany and the UK, used coal and steam to create a fuel gas for lighting, heating, and later for ammonia synthesis. The big driver was industrial hunger for chemicals and fuels, not just basic energy. That push led to processes like coal gasification and the famous Haber-Bosch process, which put hydrogen-rich mixtures at the center of fertilizer production. Later on, the Fischer-Tropsch process emerged, letting countries without oil turn coal or biomass into liquid fuels by combining carbon monoxide with hydrogen under pressure. Even during World War II, fuel shortages forced widespread use of these mixtures, shaping a legacy that’s still playing out in today’s shift to alternative fuels and chemicals.
Syngas looks simple on paper: just carbon monoxide and hydrogen, usually in ratios from 1:1 up to 1:3, with small amounts of CO2, nitrogen, or methane hitching a ride. Folks in the industry often tune these ratios for what they want downstream. Some call it water gas, especially when it comes from steam passing over hot coal. There’s also producer gas, made by blowing air over red-hot coke or coal. In any case, this mixture is pivotal for making methanol, ammonia, and all sorts of hydrocarbons. Producers bottle it for chemical plants, steelworks, and research institutes—sometimes as a compressed gas blend, other times piped directly into big reactors where quick reactions matter.
Carbon monoxide and hydrogen mix together into a colorless gas, nearly odorless, so your nose offers no warning. Both parts burn with nearly invisible flames. Syngas is less dense than air and diffuses fast, which can get dangerous in leaky spaces. The blend comes alive with heat and catalysts: it reacts with water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, alcohols, and even metal surfaces. Hydrogen’s small molecule means quick movement, but also makes it seep through joints and metals that hold up well to other chemicals. Carbon monoxide clings fiercely to iron and nickel surfaces, poisoning some catalysts while boosting others. All this chemical restlessness delivers a powerful toolkit—one that can break, build, and rearrange molecules under the right conditions.
Gas suppliers use firm labels and tight specs, mainly set by ISO standards or regional rules. Typical mixtures land between 40-70% hydrogen with the rest mostly carbon monoxide. Certified cylinders must show component ratios, batch numbers, production methods, and any impurity levels above 100 parts-per-million. Labels also warn about toxicity and pressure, since these cylinders hold gas at up to 200 bar. Some places color-code cylinder shoulders, making it easier to spot in a crowded gas yard. Research labs and refineries keep tight records for traceability, since a slight change in ratio can ruin a whole day’s batch in chemical synthesis.
Producers have several reliable tricks for making this blend. One classic involves blasting steam across burning coke or coal, a reaction that spits out hydrogen and carbon monoxide in near equal measure. This basic water gas reaction still runs in old steelworks. Others turn to natural gas, zapping methane with steam in the presence of nickel catalysts to split off hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Some refineries run partial oxidation: they inject oxygen straight into hydrocarbons, which gives heat and the gases all at once. Each method leaves its fingerprints—unwanted tars, sulfur, or nitrides—so gas clean-up becomes nearly as important as the initial synthesis. Large plants follow up with shift conversion or purification steps to tweak the gas mix before sending it to downstream reactors.
Once formed, this mixture doesn’t just sit idle. It’s a launching pad for a whole family of reactions. Add more steam, heat, and a catalyst, and you get even more hydrogen plus carbon dioxide thanks to the water-gas shift reaction. Push it through a Fischer-Tropsch setup, and long hydrocarbon chains start to appear—mirroring the processes used in synthetic diesel production. Feed it into a methanol reactor and, under pressure, it forms methanol for plastics or fuels. Chemists also tune the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide by running the mixture over copper, iron, or chromium oxide catalysts. Some even use electrochemical cells to rebalance or clean up the mixtures, cutting CO or hydrogen down to suit a specific factory line.
Scientists and engineers love their jargon, and this blend has picked up plenty of names over the years. “Syngas” pops up most often in textbooks and industry brochures. “Water gas” describes blends coming from steam-coal reactions, while “producer gas” signals air-blown setups, usually with less hydrogen. In older catalogs, “town gas” was common in cities before natural gas dominated the scene. On supplier lists, you might see “carbon monoxide and hydrogen mixture” or “CO/H2 blend.” Factories stick these labels on pipes, valves, and storage tanks for clarity, but anyone who’s worked in a chemical plant recognizes the sharp risks hidden behind the plain names.
Nobody gets complacent around these gases—training, alarms, and emergency drills fill the day. Both carbon monoxide and hydrogen spell trouble if let loose. Carbon monoxide steals its way into the bloodstream, binding to hemoglobin far better than oxygen, leading to headaches, confusion, or worse if people breathe enough. Hydrogen poses its own threat: leaks vanish into the air, igniting with a barely visible flame, and a tiny spark can light off an explosion in tight quarters. Plant operators rely on gas detectors set low to the ground, because both gases sprawl quickly through any gaps. Cylinders wear clear hazard warnings, handling instructions, and valve protection. Sites build in forced ventilation and limit spark sources, especially near compressors or process lines. Emergency responders know to bring extra breathing gear, as a face mask won’t block carbon monoxide’s silent attack.
Syngas plays an outsized role in heavy industry and green innovation alike. Ammonia plants, the backbone of fertilizers, depend on hydrogen and carbon monoxide blends. Methanol plants transform the stuff into the feedstock for plastics and solvents. Fisher-Tropsch reactors craft synthetic fuels in places short on crude oil, offering a backup when energy security turns shaky. Smaller labs run it in pilot reactors, testing new catalysts and processes. Biorefineries have begun using similar mixtures, made from crop waste or trash, as part of a shift to renewable chemicals and fuels. Even power plants in parts of Asia turn to syngas for flexible generation, trading off coal and gas inputs as electricity markets demand. Hardware makers also lean on the mixture for processing metals and glass, chasing purity and process control in every weld or melt.
R&D around carbon monoxide and hydrogen continues to surge, particularly as climate pressures mount. This mixture sits at the crossroads of chemistry, physics, and engineering. Research teams obsess over better catalysts, ones that can make the most of syngas at lower costs and with cleaner outputs. Others examine reactors that handle variable feedstocks, like municipal solid waste. Universities and think tanks team up with industry to model how tiny changes in blend ratios shape the performance of new plastics or fuels. Startups and legacy firms both hunt for ways to shift production away from fossil inputs, driving research on renewable sources for hydrogen and carbon monoxide. I’ve seen studies where a switch in reforming temperature or the addition of trace promoters can turn a mediocre output into near commercial-grade fuel. It’s a field where theory meets rough reality daily.
Every lab hand and plant operator keeps a sharp eye on toxicity data around these gases. Carbon monoxide poses a clear and present danger; exposure limits remain tight, often capped at 25-50 parts-per-million for workers. Ongoing research tries to pin down subtle health effects from chronic low-level exposure, since neurological impacts don’t always show up right away. Hydrogen brings its own safety lens, mainly due to explosion risk rather than outright toxicity—although hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) can sneak up in an enclosed space. Medical researchers dig into new therapies and markers for early carbon monoxide poisoning, while engineers push for smarter gas detectors that warn at the faintest whiff. The whole safety culture of syngas production and use has absorbed lessons from decades of accidents, each one reshaping rules, standards, and emergency responses. These hard-won insights keep pushing researchers to look harder at both acute effects and longer-term impacts on lung and brain health.
This blend faces turning points as the world rethinks its energy and materials backbone. The hype around hydrogen economies has swung a spotlight back on syngas, especially blends made from renewable sources—be it sun, wind, or even electrified carbon capture units. Major chemical producers picture a future where “green syngas” runs through pipelines, feeding current infrastructure but with a slashing of carbon emissions. Startups experiment with electrolysis and biogas digestion, searching for cheaper pathways and smaller footprints. I’ve watched tech conferences buzz about modular reactors, carbon-neutral plastics, and flexible plants that switch from fossil to bio-feedstocks with a few tweaks in control software. Countries focused on energy security see opportunities in synthetic fuels, especially as aviation looks for ways to decarbonize without overhauling whole fleets. In the years ahead, advances in catalyst science, smarter safety tools, and integration with renewable energy should drive this humble mixture into new markets and applications, blending the lessons of the past with the urgent needs of tomorrow.
Imagine walking through a giant chemical plant. The hum of machines and the smell of heated metal fill the air. Right at the center of so many operations, a mix of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, known in the industry as syngas, flows through pipes thicker than your arm. That gas blend keeps much of modern industry moving, often out of sight and out of mind for most people.
Most folks touch the results of syngas chemistry every day without knowing it. Take methanol. This simple alcohol starts off as a product from syngas. Factory workers, scientists, and engineers feed this blend of gases into reactors with special catalysts — those solids that help chemical reactions move along faster. The outcome: methanol, used in paints, glues, car fuel additives, and even some medications. The worldwide market for methanol runs into the tens of billions of dollars, with the bulk of it coming from the same two gases.
Switch tracks to the Fischer-Tropsch process, a set of chemical tricks developed in Germany almost a hundred years ago. Syngas goes in, long hydrocarbon chains come out. Now you have synthetic diesel, jet fuel, and waxes. South Africa built much of its industry on this, especially during oil shortages. Countries with lots of coal, like China, keep investing in Fischer-Tropsch plants because they can turn local coal into liquid fuels and chemicals, cutting down on oil imports and boosting energy security.
Another outcome: ammonia. To make it, industry experts mix syngas with nitrogen and iron-containing catalysts under serious pressure. That ammonia becomes fertilizer, helping to feed a good chunk of the world’s population. The last time you tossed a handful of fertilizer into a garden bed, there’s a good chance part of it began as a blend of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
Big buzz today surrounds hydrogen as a clean fuel. Right now, a lot of it still comes from syngas produced by running steam over hot coke or natural gas. There are cleaner ways — like electrolysis using renewable electricity — but they remain more expensive. As governments and companies look to cut carbon emissions, research keeps rolling in to make hydrogen cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable as an energy carrier.
Here’s the rub: making syngas usually pumps out a lot of CO2. Especially if plants use coal or fossil natural gas. The conversation about climate change puts pressure on chemical companies to find ways to trap, reduce, or reuse those greenhouse gases. Carbon capture and storage technologies, plus recycling waste CO2 back into syngas, now sit at the center of research labs. That goes hand-in-hand with finding better catalysts and more efficient plant designs.
From experience working in a research lab, the innovation space moves fast. Five years ago, lab-scale trials exploring solar-driven hydrogen production seemed like moonshots; today, pilot plants have started to pop up, driven by climate policy and energy security worries. Government support, clever engineering, and hard data sharing between researchers and industry push the field forward.
A mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen forms a building block for hundreds of vital products and processes. As the world pushes for greener, safer energy, those who work with these gases sit on the front line. They shape the chemicals, fuels, and even the policies that power daily life. Choices made now affect not just factories, but grocery shelves, fuel stations, and gardens across the globe.
Some mixtures bring opportunity, others demand extra respect. Take syngas—a blend of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. This stuff fuels everything from chemicals and fertilizers to steel and, in cutting-edge circles, green energy. At first glance, it feels like magic. Flip some valves, fire up the reactor, and suddenly you've caught a piece of tomorrow’s clean tech revolution. Yet nobody in the plant or lab likes feeling uneasy about what’s seeping out of a pipe or hiding under a compressor—least of all with carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
Let’s get real. Both of these gases carry serious risks. Carbon monoxide is a proven silent killer. This invisible, odorless gas latches onto your blood’s hemoglobin with a grip iron doesn’t match, kicking out oxygen bit by bit. Just a small whiff is enough to start headaches, chest pain, or worse, blackouts. Long exposure takes away the chance to realize something’s wrong. Headlines too often mention fatal accidents in garages or old boilers from leaking carbon monoxide.
Hydrogen goes the opposite way. Breathe it in and your body deals with it, but in the air, hydrogen is touchy and explosive. Any stray ignition—a spark, static, even some hot equipment—sets off a blast. Hydrogen’s tiny atoms slip out through joints and seals that other gases never challenge. Deep underground pipes or basic plastic tubing? No guarantee against leaks.
Together, carbon monoxide and hydrogen make a combination that demands total focus: Silent toxicity from one side, instant fire risk from the other.
I’ve spent time walking through chemical plants and training rooms. Every old hand I met had a story about a close call with “synthesis gas.” One time, a pump seal let go and nobody could see a leak—sensors did that job. Same thing at a pilot reactor when a small valve wore out: alarms picked it up before workers got dizzy or worse. There’s no relying on personal senses with this stuff. Training drills are serious, taken as gospel—evacuations, donning masks, checking for leaks after maintenance.
Respected organizations stand behind the science. The CDC, OSHA, and European regulators set strict limits for how much carbon monoxide is safe: just 50 parts per million for workplace air. Hydrogen gets its own rulebook around electrical gear, static risks, and ventilation. New startups in the hydrogen economy think fresh but stick to the same proven precautions—gas-tight rooms, forced ventilation, and regular sensor checks. Nobody gets comfortable around these gases. Complacency invites disaster.
Major breakthroughs might ease these hazards. Sensors grow cheaper, smarter, smaller every year. Plant designers use real-time leak detection and automated shutdowns. Hydrogen-specific flame detectors and advanced CO alarms now hang on walls in facilities around the globe. Even labs teaching grad students insist on personal gas detectors clipped to belts. Every bit of extra vigilance fights off a worst-case scenario.
For the future, better education helps as much as new technology. A strong work culture pushes every project and worker to flag shortcuts, test gear, drill safety—over and over. Those outside heavy industry face a world where synthetic fuels and hydrogen likely become more common. Knowledge, backed by facts, keeps everyone steps ahead of danger.
No magic or shortcuts can make syngas “safe” to handle like water or air. Proper respect, clear training, reliable sensors, and strong teamwork matter most. Safety doesn’t rest on luck, but on keeping eyes open and refusing to ignore danger signs. Take nothing for granted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and the mix earns its place in a responsible, forward-looking world.
If you’ve ever spent time around power plants, chemical factories, or looked into the future of green fuels, you might hear people mention syngas. Syngas stands for synthesis gas, a mixture created by reacting carbon-based material with steam or oxygen. The big ticket question a lot of folks have: what’s the usual ratio of carbon monoxide to hydrogen in this type of mix?
This isn’t some trick question from a textbook. In most industrial settings, the main process for making syngas uses steam reforming of natural gas or coal gasification. Experts routinely check two numbers in this mix: how much carbon monoxide shows up compared to hydrogen. You’ll see numbers like “1 to 2,” meaning for every one part carbon monoxide, there’s roughly two parts hydrogen. This ratio pops up a lot. Plants stick close to it because it supports a lot of downstream uses that make modern life work.
I’ve watched engineers tweak these ratios by adding more steam or dialing up the temperature. That’s because some industries need a higher hydrogen count. For making ammonia or refining fuels, too much carbon monoxide messes up the chemistry and catalysts. On the other hand, processes like Fischer-Tropsch that turn gas into liquid fuels tend to favor a near one-to-one split.
Putting the right ratio into play means getting better yields, lower costs, and safer operations. Get it wrong and companies waste resources, release more carbon, or face extra cleanup headaches. I’ve seen operators stay up late adjusting burner feeds, all so they land close to that sweet spot. It’s this daily grind that separates a steady plant from one bursting pipes or blinking alarms every week.
Most people don’t see what’s in syngas, but if you’re on-site, you’d never forget. Carbon monoxide is silent and deadly. Even seasoned workers can get tripped up if a leak goes unnoticed. Hydrogen alone isn’t poisonous, but it’s flammable enough to get the fire department’s full attention. Balancing these gases isn’t just a production goal—it’s a workplace safety issue too. That’s why every credible plant has up-to-date sensors, backup fans, and thorough emergency training—not just because they have to, but because real lives are at stake.
With more focus now on green hydrogen and carbon capture, new projects want extra control over these ratios. Renewable sources feed in different blends, so plants are investing in flexible reactors and smarter monitoring tools. Some engineers are even eyeing biogas and plastic waste as starting points, since the mix can swing wildly with each batch. Research from universities and industry shows options like pressure swing adsorption, advanced membranes, and catalytic trickery that can nudge these numbers just where you want them. It’s not just theory—pilot programs keep popping up across Europe and Asia with results worth watching.
The ordinary citizen might not think much about the balance of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, but anyone invested in energy, air quality, and green jobs should. Policy action can boost safe operation and research funding. Community voices still push companies to modernize technology and meet tougher air regulations. Tighter standards drive innovation, which helps deliver cleaner gases and cuts pollution at the same time. Getting the ratio right is a technical challenge, but it gives us a concrete lever to pull for a cleaner, safer, and more productive world.
Mixing carbon monoxide and hydrogen—a blend called "water gas" or "syngas"—sounds like something straight from a high school textbook. In the real world, this mix plays a practical role in everything from making fuels to boosting chemicals for industry. These aren’t just interesting molecules. If handled poorly, they become an accident waiting to happen.
I spent a year in a pilot plant, working shoulder to shoulder with operators, juggling gas cylinders and worrying about unintended leaks. Carbon monoxide will slide through your lungs and displace oxygen before you even notice. It doesn’t smell, doesn’t irritate, and doesn’t give you a headache as a warning. Hydrogen, lighter than air, flirts with flames and sparks. A tiny leak or static charge can turn a quiet warehouse into debris.
Industrial standards exist for good reason. Both gases pack power—and storing them together calls for materials that don’t react or corrode. Carbon steel lines work for hydrogen, but moisture in the mix introduces rust—so corrosion risks get higher. With carbon monoxide, nickel alloys, stainless steel, or seamless steel take the front seat because they don't break down or allow gas to escape at the welds. Composite cylinders have come a long way, using polymers and fiber reinforcements to reduce risk, but each kind has strict limits for pressure and exposure.
Where I worked, we always worried about temperature swings. Hydraulic testing isn’t just paperwork—crews pressurize cylinders and listen for whistles or cracks. High-pressure storage reduces cylinder count but turns valves and safety release devices into critical controls. Industry practice keeps the gas cool—between 0°C and 25°C—so seals don’t shrink or fail. Supervisors came down hard if anyone skimped on temperature logs.
Electronic sniffers, color-changing detectors, and acoustic monitors keep watch for leaks. Carbon monoxide exposure builds up in the bloodstream, so alarms stay tuned to lower thresholds. Ventilation and emergency shutoff routes stand out in bright paint for good reason. Once every few months, the plant drills for large-scale leaks—nobody shrugs this off. Records from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board show that most serious releases connect back to ignored valves, faulty sensors, or broken seals.
No storage solution works without the people. New operators get more than a safety booklet—they spend hours shadowing experienced techs. My first few weeks on the job, I learned how to find the smallest hissing sound with a soapy sponge. Teams do their own checks, step by step, starting from valves and seals right up to centralized monitored storage areas.
Many facilities adopt double-walled vessels, explosion-proof rooms, and run remote monitoring 24/7. Steel pallets hold gas cylinders in racks that don’t tip if an earthquake rattles through. Facilities add in-line flash arrestors and rupture discs—pressure leaves fast if an accident begins. Emergency response teams keep ready breathing equipment. The takeaway: No cutting corners, no trusting your luck.
Safer storage depends on real practice, not wishful thinking. Industry regulations—like those published by OSHA and local fire codes—spell out distances, allowable temperatures, and pressure thresholds for a reason. I’ve seen operators spot trouble early and save lives simply because they knew their gear, stuck to routines, and respected the risks. No storage container or clever invention replaces vigilance and solid teamwork.
Ask anyone who’s worked with gas mixtures—carbon monoxide and hydrogen don’t leave room for carelessness. Syngas, as industry folks call this blend, shows up in everything from fuel production to chemical plants. Both gases carry a reputation for danger, and not just because of fire hazards. Carbon monoxide, in even small amounts, causes poisoning. Hydrogen, light as a feather, escapes through tiny cracks and ignites at the drop of a spark.
No one drives a truck full of this mix across state lines without checking the rulebooks. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) calls mixtures like this “hazardous materials”—more than just an official label. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), under DOT, publishes specific regulations tucked under 49 CFR Parts 171-180. Most countries that value worker safety and clean air list both hydrogen and carbon monoxide as “dangerous goods.” Europe’s ADR, for instance, places them among the top hazards. Each country or bloc layers on its own requirements for documentation, signage, and training.
Experience in chemical shipping taught me that regulatory language always has a human face. Drivers and handlers worry about proper cylinders—seamless steel with the right stamp, filled at the right pressure. Labels never just read “syngas”; they spell out each component and show the proper hazard class. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen each demand hazard class 2.3 (toxic gas) and 2.1 (flammable gas) markings according to most rules. That’s because a leak means both fire and poison risk for anyone nearby.
Shipping containers or cylinders must stand up to rough roads and sudden temperature swings. DOT and ADR standards only approve packaging that passes some intense tests. A dented or corroded cylinder that passes unnoticed turns into a potential disaster.
From the paperwork to the physical handling, nothing happens without people putting in the work. Drivers, warehouse staff, and anyone with access go through HazMat training. Even after years in this field, the paperwork feels relentless: shipping manifests, emergency contacts, safety data sheets, and the emergency action plans for every step of transport. No company with a track record for safety lets paperwork or labeling slip through the cracks.
Training drills help workers act quickly if a cylinder starts hissing or tips over. Emergency gear—like gas detectors and breathing masks—gets packed every time. Most accidents I’ve seen happen fast, and only practice saves lives.
Technology does its part. Many forward-thinking outfits now rely on real-time monitors built into shipping crates, alerting crews to leaks before anyone smells gas or starts to feel sick. Upgrades to cylinder design help too—with pressure relief valves and impact-resistant casings. Some companies are shifting to on-site generation of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to avoid transport altogether. Localizing production can shrink the risk but raises questions about oversight and training at smaller facilities.
Regulators and industry watchdogs update rules but often after an incident forces their hand. Calling on real-world experience from field workers speeds up this process. Stronger coordination between countries matters, as borders remain porous for both trade and accidents.
No rule or device replaces a workforce that knows what’s at stake. In the end, everyday decisions by drivers, warehouse staff, and managers keep a risky gas mix from turning into a headline.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | water gas |
| Other names |
Water gas Synthesis gas Syngas |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɑː.bən mɒnˈɒk.saɪd ənd ˈhaɪ.drə.dʒən mɪks.tʃər/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | ['68410-97-9'] |
| Beilstein Reference | 635873 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:27543 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1191871 |
| ChemSpider | 86525197 |
| DrugBank | DB14547 |
| ECHA InfoCard | ECHA InfoCard: 02-2119752567-29-0000 |
| EC Number | 240-440-2 |
| Gmelin Reference | 14368 |
| KEGG | C01944 |
| MeSH | D003969 |
| PubChem CID | 313667731 |
| RTECS number | MU7175000 |
| UNII | 1DJD4T5M73 |
| UN number | UN1965 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID8035227 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | CO + H2 |
| Molar mass | Variable |
| Appearance | Colorless gas |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 0.0899 g/L |
| Solubility in water | slightly soluble |
| log P | -0.13 |
| Vapor pressure | 2.03E+05 mmHg (at 21.1°C) |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | χ = -0.68E-6 (SI) |
| Viscosity | Viscosity of Mixture Of Carbon Monoxide And Hydrogen: "0.01123 mPa·s |
| Dipole moment | 1.51 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 213.6 J⋅mol⁻¹⋅K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | '-240 kJ/mol' |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | V03AN01 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS04, GHS06 |
| Pictograms | GHS02,GHS04,GHS06 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H220, H280, H331 |
| Precautionary statements | P210, P260, P271, P377, P381, P403 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 3-0-0-Special: Simple Asphyxiant |
| Autoignition temperature | 400°C |
| Explosive limits | Explosive limits: 5.5–74% |
| Lethal dose or concentration | Lethal dose or concentration (LDLC50) (rat): 6400 ppm/1H |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): 1807 ppm (rat) |
| NIOSH | NIOSH: MW9800000 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) for Mixture Of Carbon Monoxide And Hydrogen: "Carbon monoxide: 50 ppm (55 mg/m3) as CO; Hydrogen: Not established (asphyxiant) |
| REL (Recommended) | 50 ppm |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | 1500 ppm |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Water gas Syngas Producer gas Town gas Forming gas |