Question

When a man inhales air containing normal concentration of O₂ as well as CO he suffers from suffocation because:

• A. CO reacts faster with haemoglobin and products cannot dissociate
• B. CO reacts with oxygen which is thus removed from the air reaching the lungs
• C. CO affects vagus nerves
• D. CO affects the diaphragm and intercostal muscles

Answer 1

The correct option is A

CO reacts faster with haemoglobin and products cannot dissociate

The correct option is A.

Explanation for correct option:

1. Oxygen binds with hemoglobin and has great affinity forming oxyhemoglobin that passes oxygen to all the tissues and in the tissues carbon dioxide binds to hemoglobin forming carboxyhemoglobin that releases carbon dioxide into the lungs.
2. When a man inhales a normal concentration of oxygen along with the same concentration of carbon monoxide(CO); he starts to suffocate as after the reaction of CO with hemoglobin it forms a stable compound that cannot be dissociated into the blood.
3. This stable compound formed inhibits oxygen to bind with the hemoglobin, as a result of which the oxygen level in the blood is reduced, and the level of carbon dioxide gets increased.

Final Answer: When a man inhales air containing a normal concentration of O₂ as well as CO he suffers from suffocation because CO reacts faster with hemoglobin and products cannot dissociate.