[snowbird_03]

if u lost the label of co2 and co. co2 is harmless but co is deadly. what kind of experiment can u do to distinguish btwn the 2 gases??? Thank u.

[mike]

You could try bubbling them through lime water (Ca(OH)2) the CO2 should form a precipitate of CaCO3.

I think the IR spectra would be different as well.

[gregpawin]

I'm no expert but maybe you could put it in a combustion chamber with oxygen and measure the amount of heat that comes out.

[xiankai]

bubble into water and test pH...?

[Juan R.]

Yes IR is different, also the NMR is. The CO2 has not rotational spectrum on microwave but HAS rotational spectrum on Raman. Other spectrum can also offer diferences (e.g. the electronic?).

Also measuring of dipolar momenta. The CO is a dipole.

Probably via measuring the diffusion of both. The viscosity is different. I did a similar experiment for detect different gases but experimental apparatus was rudimentarius and only gases with large difference in viscosity coefficients could be unambiguosuly detected.

Etc.

[jdurg]

I would just bubble through a solution of KOH.  CO2 will form the bicarbonate while CO will just move right through.

[Garneck]

The chemical method seems cheaper than the spectral one  

[Karakth]

CO₂ turns lime water Ca(OH)₂ milky while CO burns with a blue flame.

Simple, really.