What is the Difference Between Cobalt Oxide and Cobalt Carbonate?

Cobalt oxide and cobalt carbonate are inorganic chemical compounds with different chemical and physical properties, despite both containing the cobalt element. The key differences between cobalt oxide and cobalt carbonate are:

1. Color: Cobalt oxide appears as a black powder, while cobalt carbonate appears as a pink-violet powder.
2. Chemical Formula: Cobalt oxide has the chemical formula CoO, while cobalt carbonate has the formula CoCO3.3Co(OH)2.H2O.
3. Strength: Cobalt oxide is one and one-half times stronger than cobalt carbonate, which means that when substituting one for the other in a recipe, the amount of cobalt carbonate should be increased by a factor of 1.5.
4. Particle Size: Cobalt oxide has a larger particle size than cobalt carbonate, which can lead to blue specking in glazes when cobalt oxide is substituted for cobalt carbonate.

Both compounds are used in the ceramics industry as additives for glazes, but their differences in color, strength, and particle size can lead to varying results in glaze recipes. When switching between the two compounds in a recipe, it is essential to consider these differences and make appropriate adjustments to achieve the desired outcome.

Comparative Table: Cobalt Oxide vs Cobalt Carbonate

Here is a table comparing the differences between cobalt oxide and cobalt carbonate:

Cobalt oxide (CoO) is a black powder, while cobalt carbonate (CoCO3) appears as a pink-violet powder. Cobalt oxide is a more powerful colorant compared to cobalt carbonate. Both compounds are used in the ceramics industry, but cobalt oxide is also important in the chemical industry for the production of cobalt (II) salts. In terms of colorant strength, cobalt carbonate is a weaker form of cobalt oxide, though both are good sources of cobalt.