What Temperature is Required to Break CO2 Molecules?

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SUMMARY

Carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules begin to break down at temperatures around 1500°C, resulting in the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) and oxygen (O2). The discussion highlights that breaking CO2 into carbon and oxygen requires significantly higher temperatures, potentially three times that of methane breakdown, which occurs at 1500°C. The use of an electrical arc is suggested as a method to achieve these high temperatures, although the exact temperature required for CO2 dissociation remains theoretical and untested by the participants.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of chemical bonding, specifically polar covalent bonds.
  • Knowledge of thermal decomposition processes in chemistry.
  • Familiarity with the properties of carbon dioxide and its breakdown products.
  • Basic principles of electrical arcs and their applications in chemistry.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the thermal decomposition of carbon dioxide and its reaction pathways.
  • Study the properties and breakdown temperatures of other hydrocarbons, such as methane.
  • Explore the use of electrical arcs in chemical reactions and their temperature capabilities.
  • Investigate experimental methods for measuring the dissociation of CO2 at high temperatures.
USEFUL FOR

Chemistry students, researchers in thermochemistry, and professionals interested in high-temperature chemical processes will benefit from this discussion.

ANarwhal
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I was wondering at what heat does CO2 begin to breakup as a molecule?

If I make an electrical arc and put it through air will I be breaking up CO2?
 
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ANarwhal said:
I was wondering at what heat does CO2 begin to breakup as a molecule?

If I make an electrical arc and put it through air will I be breaking up CO2?

Carbon dioxide has been broken to Carbon monoxide and oxygen at 1500oC by scientist. Now to break CO itself , we have to require a lot of heat energy indeed because its polar covalent bond. I think that passing electrical arc through air will break CO2 molecule. But again , it requires very very and very high temperature indeed. Hence breaking CO2 to C and O2 is very difficult. Electric arc at range 1500oC can break methane molecule. So CO2 will require electric arc of thrice or more temperature than methane to directly separate CO2 to C and O2. However , I'm not cent percent sure ! I have not experimented. I am just saying this by theoretical knowledge.

Needs to be moved to chemistry section...
 

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