CO2 is a compound containing carbon and oxygen. It is formed by the burning of hydrocarbon with air. CO2 is a slightly toxic, odorless, colorless gas with a slightly pungent, acid taste. Carbon dioxide is a small but important constituent of air.
Carbon dioxide in its solid form (dry ice) is used as a refrigerant when transporting dairy products, meat products, frozen foods and other foods. It is also used as a coolant in industrial processes such as grinding, rubber tumbling and cold treating materials.
As a gas, carbon dioxide is used to carbonate soft drinks, pH control in water treatment, in chemical processing, as a food preservative, in chemical and food processing. Furthermore, it is also used when welding.
In liquid form, carbon dioxide can be used as a refrigerant when freezing food products.
