Suggest a reason as to why CO is poisonous.
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Solution 1
Carbon monoxide is highly-poisonous because of its ability to form a complex with haemoglobin. The CO–Hb complex is more stable than the O2–Hb complex. The former prevents Hb from binding with oxygen. Thus, a person dies because of suffocation on not receiving oxygen. It is found that the
CO–Hb complex is about 300 times more stable than the O2–Hb complex.
Solution 2
CO reacts with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin which can destroy the oxygen carrying capacity of haemoglobin and the man dies of suffocation.
Concept: Some Important Compounds of Carbon and Silicon - Carbon Monoxide
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