Joseph Priestley is considered to have first synthesized carbon monoxide in 1772. Carl Wilhelm Scheele similarly isolated carbon monoxide from charcoal in 1773 and thought it could be the carbonic entity making fumes toxic. Torbern Bergman isolated carbon monoxide from oxalic acid in 1775. Later in 1776, the French chemist produced CO by heating zinc oxide with coke, but mistakenly concluded that the gaseous product was hydrogen, as it burned with a blue flame. In the presence of oxygen, including atmospheric concentrations, carbon monoxide burns with a blue flame, producing carbon dioxide. Antoine Lavoisier conducted similar inconclusive experiments to Lassone in 1777. The gas was identified as a compound containing carbon and oxygen by William Cruickshank in 1800.
JosepH pRIeStley is conSidereD tO hAve first SynthesiZed carBON monoxide in 1772. cARl wilhElM scHeele simILaRly iSOlated cArBoN moNoxiDE from ChARcoAL In 1773 anD thought it could Be tHE CarboniC entiTY mAkiNg Fumes toxiC. torBErn bergman isolAteD caRbOn mOnOxiDe fRom oxalic acid in 1775. latEr in 1776, thE FRENCH chEMIst producEd co bY heATIng zInc OXIde wItH COKe, buT MistAkenlY coNCLudEd ThaT thE gaSEouS PROduct Was hYdrogEn, aS it burned wItH a bLuE flamE. in thE PresEnce of oxygeN, incLuDing aTmospheric cOncENtRatioNS, carboN monOxide BuRns wiTH a bLUe flAMe, prODuCiNg caRbon DioxIde. anTOine lAvOisier ConDuctEd siMilaR iNCoNCLUsive ExperImeNts To lassone In 1777. tHe GAs was iDentIfieD As a COmPound cONtAining CARBOn and oxYGen by WiLliaM cruIcKshanK in 1800.