2446. Cobaltous Oxide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1307-96-6
CoO; mol wt 74.93.
Co 78.65%, O 21.35%.

Description and references

Prepn: Amiel et al., Compt. Rend. 259, 3512 (1964); Wilke, Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. 330, 164 (1964). Toxicity study: Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 30, 470 (1969). Review: de Bie, Doyen, Cobalt 15, 3-13; 16, 3-15 (1962).

Properties

Powder, or cubic or hexagonal crystals. Color varies from olive green to red, depending on the particle size, but the commercial material is usually dark grey and contains about 76% Co. mp ≈1935°. d 5.7 to 6.7, depending on method of prepn. Readily absorbs O2 even at room temp. Practically insol in water. Sol in acids or alkalies. Easily reduced to Co by C or CO. Reacts at high temperatures with silica, alumina, zinc oxide to form pigments. LD50 orally in rats: 1.70 g/kg (Smyth).

Note

The commercial oxides are usually not definite chemical compds but mixtures of the cobalt oxides.

Use

In pigments for ceramics; glass coloring and decolorization; oxidation catalyst for drying oils, fast-drying paints and varnishes; prepn of cobalt-metal catalysts, Co powder for binder in sintered tungsten carbide; in semiconductors.