answersLogoWhite

0

Why Co an element and CO a compound?

Updated: 9/13/2021
User Avatar

Wiki User

6y ago

Best Answer

The chemical symbol of an element contains one capital letter and sometimes one lowercase letter.

So in the case of Co, there is only one uppercase letter, therefore there is only one element. Co is the symbol for the metallic element cobalt.

In CO there are two uppercase letters, meaning there are two elements.

C is the symbol for carbon, O is the symbol for oxygen.

CO consists of molecules each containing 1 carbon atom and 1 oxygen atom, forming the toxic gas carbon monoxide.

User Avatar

Kendrick Rau

Lvl 10
2y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Why Co an element and CO a compound?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp