CO is deadly to the human body as it can compete with success with oxygen for hemoglobin. Knowing the concepts stated in Le Chatelier's Principle, how can CO poisoning in the body be reversed?
Hb(O2)4 + 4CO <---> Hb(CO)4 + O2
[a] Increasing the pressure of O2
[b] Decreasing the amount of Hb
[c] Increaing the amount of Hb
[d] increasing CO2 pressure
[e] increasing CO pressure
I believe it is A because if the pressure of O2 is increased, it's concentration will increase, sending the reaction in reverse, and also giving O2 more opportunities for it to bind to hemoglobin. The rest do not make logical sense to me.
Any thought and comments are welcome.
Thanks!
2007-03-10 03:43:19 · 4 answers · asked by Adam C. from Italy 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Increasing O2 pressure. In the worst cases a person is also given blood transfusions to increase the Hb to carry more O2.
When CO bonds to the Hb in the blood it will not release at the lungs the way CO2 does. This basically ruins the Hb in the effected RBCs. By increasing the O2 pressure you can force more dissolved O2 into the blood, but if too many RBCs and their Hb are damaged, the person needs to have a transfusion to help this process along.
2007-03-10 03:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by physandchemteach 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The overall opinion by the Medical community depending on the levels of CO in the body is the use of a chamber which is commonly used for divers who came up to the surface too quickly creating a condition known as the bends. These chambers actually force the oxygen in to the body and are known for saving lives for people with severe smoke inhalation. Ref the tragic fire in NYC that claimed 9 lives(possibly 10 as another is now in critical condition). The chambers are also thought to improve probabilities of long term health as smoke can do extensive damage to the lungs of children. If this is a homework assignment I would suggest from now on doing the searches your self as it is your responsibility. You should check out www.webmd.com for health issues related to this problem as they are much more complex than I can get in to here.
2007-03-10 03:59:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
CO binds to hemoglobin much faster than O2 or CO2 so it wouldn't be (B) you don't want to starve the body of its cap[ability to deliver O2 to the tissues. I agree with you that the answer is (A) because to reverse CO poisoning in patients we often times have them go into the hyperbaric chamber with 100% oxygen, so there we are trying to increase the pressue of O2. I hope this helped.
2007-03-10 03:55:24 · answer #3 · answered by bootyliciousdsm 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Correct. Hyperbaric chambers are sometimes used to facilitate this, in addition to an oxygen tent or mask.
2007-03-10 03:52:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Correct.
C would also work, but seems impractical.
2007-03-10 03:48:31 · answer #5 · answered by Steve A 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋