More specifically why does the one less oxygen molecule make it dangerous compared to just one more oxygen molecule
In: Chemistry
Your blood moves oxygen and carbon dioxide through your body by having the oxygen or CO2 bind loosely to blood cells. Then the oxygen of CO2 is released in the proper place so that it can go where it needs to go.
Carbon Monoxide bind strongly to the cells…preventing oxygen or carbon dioxide from doing so. So if you get too much Carbon Monoxide, your body isn’t able to move oxygen to where it needs to go, and is less effective at removing CO2.
So, in CO2, the carbon and the two oxygen atoms are all fully bonded with each other. None of the atoms (the carbon, the oxygen, or the other oxygen) have room to bond with anything else.
But CO is missing and O. It’s not fully bonded. Meaning it still has room/ability to bond with other molecules. Such as the molecules in your blood that are used to transport oxygen.
Which means if you breathe in a lot of CO, suddenly your blood is absorbing a LOT of CO, and not a lot of Oxygen, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.
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