Question

Why is $CO$ poisonous for man?

• A. $CO$ affects the nerves of the lungs
• B. $CO$ affects the diaphragm and intercoastal muscles
• C. $CO$ reacts with oxygen reducing percentage of $O_{2}$ in air
• D. Haemoglobin combines with $CO$ instead $O_{2}$ and the product cannot dissociate

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas. It combines with haemoglobin more rapidly than oxygen to form carboxyhaemoglobin most stable combination with the haemoglobin of blood. $CO$ has $200-250$ times more affinity for haemoglobin as compared to oxygen.