Question

If a man inhales a mixture of gases containing oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, he suffers from suffocation because

• A. Carbon monoxide has a relatively higher affinity for haemoglobin and binds with it irreversibly
• B. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide react, producing a poisonous gas
• C. Haemoglobin molecules become saturated with these gases and hence, transport of oxygen slows down
• D. These gases decrease the pH of the blood and cause breathing disturbance

Answer 1

The correct option is A Carbon monoxide has a relatively higher affinity for haemoglobin and binds with it irreversibly

Among oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide (CO), CO has the highest affinity for haemoglobin. It reacts with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemoglobin, which is a stable complex. As a result, there is no haemoglobin available for oxygen transport, resulting in suffocation.