yep. CO on top, CO2 on bottom.

air is:
nitrogen: 78.08%  and weights 28.0134g/mol
oxygen: 20.9476% and weights 31.99 g/mol
Argon: 0.934% and weights 39.948 g/mol
(and the rest is less than .001% each, neon, co2, he, kr, xe, ch4, h2)
Density is 1.2250 at sea level and 25C

Carbon-Monoxide weights 28.005 grams/mole and has a density of .301 at sea
level at 25C

So therefore, CO is "lighter" than air and will build from the top down
and not the bottom up, like CO2.  BUT BARELY. Look at those masses, there
is not much difference.

But the masses are really close so things like air currents are pretty
important here.  But not with CO2- that stuff is really heavy and you can
"see" it hang out down low.

Ok, back to my gasses (butyl mercaptan-- the same stuff that makes skunks
smell great!)
-Matthew

Matthew Pollard          "Racing with the wind and flirting with death
Dept. Of Chemistry        So have a cup of coffee and catch your breath"
University of Idaho
www.uidaho.edu/~poll7356

On Wed, 31 Oct 2001, Dan Snow wrote:

> CO is lighter than air, CO2 is heavier.
>
> Daniel Snow
> PhD Student
> UC Berkeley
>
> '82 Vanagon Diesel
> '78 Puch Maxi Luxe Moped
> '72 Motobecane Mobylette Moped
> '01 Xootr Scooter
>
>
>
> >From: Ken Hartz <ThreeHartz@AOL.COM>
> >Reply-To: ThreeHartz@AOL.COM
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Cold weather camping, heating, etc.
> >Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 14:50:49 EST
> >
> >I've been following the recent string about heaters used in Vanagons,
> >Westies, etc.  Just a safety point to remember ... carbon monoxide is
> >heavier
> >than air, ie, builds from the floor up.  If you're relying on a roof vent
> >to
> >provide fresh air, fine, but if you're relying on that vent to eliminate
> >the
> >CO, you'll be breathing it long before it gets to the vent.  Also, if you
> >have a pet with you and that pet sleeps on the floor, he'll be the first to
> >go.
> >
> >I saw one comment about a portable, battery powered CO monitor.  Does
> >anyone
> >know where these are sold and the $$?
> >Thanks.
> >Ken Hartz
> >89 White Wolfie (with a nice non-smashed front bumper again!)
> >
> >
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
>