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Carbon Dioxide - CO2

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Carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚) is a colourless, odourless gas composed of one carbon atom covalently double-bonded to two oxygen atoms. It exists naturally in Earth's atmosphere as a trace gas and plays a central role in Earth's carbon cycle, respiration, and global temperature regulation. Used as a shielding gas (pure or mixed with argon) in MIG/MAG welding, puts the fizz in beverages, essential reactant for plant photosynthesis and acts as a primary greenhouse gas by absorbing and re-emitting infrared radiation, maintaining planetary warmth.
History: Jan Baptista van Helmont (17th Century) Coined the term "gas" (from Greek chaos). First to discover air is not a single substance, identifying gas sylvestre ("wood gas") from burning charcoal and fermentation. Joseph Black (1754) Officially credited with discovering carbon dioxide, which he termed "fixed air" after releasing it from magnesium carbonate. Created the limewater test for carbon dioxide (bubbling the gas turns the liquid cloudy). Proved carbon dioxide is produced by human respiration, combustion, and fermentation.