Question

Explain why, it is dangerous to inhale air containing carbon monoxide.

Answer 1

It is dangerous to inhale air containing carbon monoxide (CO) due to the following reasons:

• High Affinity: Carbon monoxide (CO) has a much stronger attraction (affinity) to haemoglobin than oxygen does.
• Carboxyhemoglobin Formation: Inhaled CO rapidly binds with haemoglobin to form a highly stable compound called carboxyhemoglobin.
• Reduced Oxygen Transport: This stable bond prevents oxygen from binding to haemoglobin, drastically reducing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity.
• Cellular Suffocation: Starved of oxygen, vital organs like the brain and heart fail, leading to dizziness, unconsciousness, and death.