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carbon dioxide

[ kahr-buhn dahy-ok-sahyd ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas, CO 2 , present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration, usually obtained from coal, coke, or natural gas by combustion, from carbohydrates by fermentation, by reaction of acid with limestone or other carbonates, or naturally from springs: used extensively in industry as dry ice, or carbon dioxide snow, in carbonated beverages, fire extinguishers, etc.

carbon dioxide

noun

a colourless odourless incombustible gas present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration, the decomposition and combustion of organic compounds, and in the reaction of acids with carbonates: used in carbonated drinks, fire extinguishers, and as dry ice for refrigeration. Formula: CO 2 Also calledcarbonic-acid gas

carbon dioxide

A colorless, odorless gas that is present in the atmosphere and is formed when any fuel containing carbon is burned. It is breathed out of an animal's lungs during respiration, is produced by the decay of organic matter, and is used by plants in photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is also used in refrigeration, fire extinguishers, and carbonated drinks. Chemical formula: CO 2 .

carbon dioxide

A compound made up of molecules containing one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.

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Notes

Carbon dioxide is normally found as a gas that is breathed out by animals and absorbed by green plants. The plants, in turn, return oxygen to the atmosphere . ( See carbon cycle and respiration .)

Carbon dioxide is also given off in the burning of fossil fuels ( see greenhouse effect ).

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Word History and Origins

Origin of carbon dioxide¹

First recorded in 1870–75

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Compare Meanings

How does carbon dioxide compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

carbon monoxide vs. carbon dioxide

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

However, a study Havenith published last week in Communications Psychology found these altered states of consciousness achieved through high-ventilation breathwork were directly associated with reduced levels of carbon dioxide, presumably as a result of hyperventilation.

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As carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses build up in the dense lower atmosphere, they absorb heat and keep it trapped there.

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Hydrogen is a promising source of energy that produces water vapor instead of carbon dioxide as its byproduct, which proponents say could be used to power hard-to-decarbonize industries such as steel production, manufacturing and transportation.

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But carbon dioxide emissions, which warm the planet, have risen to an all time high, the report says, with hot weather pushing up the overall demand for power.

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Depending on the type of rocket fuel used, launches produce nitrogen oxides, chlorine, black carbon particles, water vapor, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide — and no propellant avoids creating of some kind of emissions.

From

carbon dating carbon dioxide snow

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