A chemical compound containing one oxygen atom bonded to another element, most commonly carbon monoxide (CO).
From Greek 'mono-' meaning 'one' and 'oxide' from French 'oxyde', itself from Greek 'oxys' (sharp, acid) and '-ide' (compound). The term was coined in the 19th century as chemistry developed systematic naming conventions for compounds.
Carbon monoxide is called the 'silent killer' because it's odorless and colorless, yet it binds to hemoglobin 200 times more readily than oxygen does. This deadly efficiency explains why even small amounts can be fatal - your blood literally chooses the poison over the oxygen you need to survive.
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