We use chemical equilibrium calculations to model the speciation of carbon in
volcanic gases on Io. The calculations cover wide temperature (500-2000 K),
pressure (10^-8 to 10^+2 bars), and composition ranges (bulk O/S atomic ratios
\~0 to 3), which overlap the nominal conditions at Pele (1760 K, 0.01 bar, O/S
~ 1.5). Bulk C/S atomic ratios ranging from 10^-6 to 10^-1 in volcanic gases
are used with a nominal value of 10^-3 based upon upper limits from Voyager for
carbon in the Loki plume on Io. Carbon monoxide and CO2 are the two major
carbon gases under all conditions studied. Carbonyl sulfide and CS2 are orders
of magnitude less abundant. Consideration of different loss processes
(photolysis, condensation, kinetic reactions in the plume) indicates that
photolysis is probably the major loss process for all gases. Both CO and CO2
should be observable in volcanic plumes and in Io's atmosphere at abundances of
several hundred parts per million by volume for a bulk C/S ratio of 10^-3.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables; accepted by Astrophysical Journa