What does the subscript indicate in the chemical formula CO2?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 14, 2016

Clearly, it illustrates the physical state of the carbon dioxide: solid, gas, or (very rarely!) liquid.

Explanation:

Dry ice (aka card ice) sublimes at −78 ∘C, i.e. it undergoes the transition from solid to gas. At 1 atm pressure, carbon dioxide does NOT exist in the liquid state, whatever the temperature.

Under exceptional circumstances, carbon dioxide can exist as a liquid: [see here.](http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~cchieh/cact/c123/phasesdgm.html)

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