Meaning & use
monoxide
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablechemistry
A chemical compound whose molecule contains one oxygen atom combined with atoms of another element.
Grammar: Countable in compounds like carbon monoxide; usually written as two words.
Patterns
- carbon monoxide
- a monoxide of something
Carbon monoxide is a colorless gas produced when fuel burns without enough oxygen.
The detector warns you if monoxide levels in the room rise.
Nitrogen monoxide is one of the gases released by car engines.
Word forms
| plural | monoxides |
|---|
Common combinations
- carbon monoxide
- Carbon monoxide poisoning can happen in a closed garage.
- monoxide detector
- Install a monoxide detector near the bedroom.
- monoxide poisoning
- The family was treated for monoxide poisoning after using a faulty heater.
Synonyms and how they differ
- oxide
- An oxide contains oxygen but may have one or more oxygen atoms; a monoxide specifically has exactly one.
Word family
- dioxide noun
- A compound with two oxygen atoms, such as carbon dioxide.
Commonly confused: monoxide or dioxide?
monoxide vs dioxide
Dioxide has two oxygen atoms, while monoxide has only one; carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are very different gases.
Practice
Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it contains:
Choose one answer.
The prefix mono- means one, so a monoxide has exactly one oxygen atom. Dioxide (two) and trioxide (three) are different compounds.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “monoxide”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.