When you have carbon monoxide poisoning and you put on a 100% oxygen mask, will the CO react with the O to make CO2 which the body will exhale?

That dosent seem to work out :S

Everyone says that the best treatment is putting a 100% oxygen mask on the person. Why do that?

Both CO and excessive CO2 are bad. CO is worst because it prevents binding of O2 to hemoglobin in the blood. However both have the effect of depriving the body of sufficient O2. The immediate treatment is to get away from the CO source and administer O2 so that the level of O2 in the blood climbs back to normal.

Thanks :)

This is another example of Le Chatelier's Principle. As Damon points out, the CO binds with the hemoglobin and that prevents hemoglobin from binding with oxygen (because the CO-Heme bond is much stronger than the O2-Heme bond. When we breathe in, the CO2 rich hemoglobin forces the CO2 out and hemoglobin binds with O2 and we exhale the CO2. The oxygen rich hemoglobin then circulates throughout the body and in the lungs the O2/CO2 exchange again occurs where the CO2 binds to the hemoglobin (because it is in excess) and the oxygen is released to the body. That cycle repeats itself every time we inhale and exhale. But if CO binds to the hemoglobin, it doesn't want to let go and exchange as the CO2/O2 will. Again, as Damon points out, the idea is to flood the system with oxygen, force the CO out, replace it with O2, and let the hemoglobin/O2 mixture resume its normal CO2/O2 cycle.

When someone has carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, using a 100% oxygen mask can be beneficial as it helps to displace the CO from binding to hemoglobin in the blood. However, the reaction between CO and oxygen (O) to form carbon dioxide (CO2) does not happen directly in the body.

To understand this, let's break it down step by step:

1. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when a person inhales high levels of CO gas. CO has a strong affinity for hemoglobin in red blood cells, binding to it much more readily than oxygen does.

2. When CO binds to hemoglobin, it forms carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), reducing the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen effectively. This leads to a lack of oxygen supply to the body's tissues and organs.

3. Providing supplemental oxygen with a mask helps increase the oxygen concentration in the bloodstream. By introducing a higher concentration of oxygen, it competes with CO for binding sites on hemoglobin.

4. The increased concentration of oxygen helps to facilitate the displacement of CO. As the oxygen binds to the hemoglobin, it gradually replaces the CO, allowing the body to restore its oxygen-carrying capacity.

5. The displacement of CO by oxygen allows the body's tissues and organs to receive the necessary oxygen they require, potentially preventing further harm and aiding in recovery.

6. While oxygen therapy is essential for treating CO poisoning, it is vital to seek immediate medical attention as this is a potentially life-threatening condition.

It's worth noting that the formation of carbon dioxide from CO and oxygen does occur during complete combustion processes, but the body does not convert CO to CO2 directly through this mechanism.

In summary, using a 100% oxygen mask for carbon monoxide poisoning helps to displace CO from binding to hemoglobin, improving oxygen delivery to the body's tissues. The subsequent elimination of CO mainly occurs through natural processes, such as excretion through the lungs via exhalation, as opposed to direct conversion to carbon dioxide within the body.