How does the lungs know which is O2 and CO2? We breathe a ton of different gasses daily but what happens to the other gases other than O2 and CO2 when inhaled?

Question

How does the lungs know which is O2 and CO2? We breathe a ton of different gasses daily but what happens to the other gases other than O2 and CO2 when inhaled?

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Answer 1

CO2 and O2 attach to a thing in your blood called hemoglobin. In your lungs the pH is different and the hemoglobin changes shape causing more O2 to attach. When that oxygenated hemoglobin reaches tissues the pH is different causing the hemoglobin to change to a shape that picks up CO2 better.