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The central atom in haemoglobin is iron. This molecule carries oxygen and also removes carbon dioxide. Iron can be complexed by a number of ligands such as H2O , CO, CN, NH3 etc. It sets up what is known as an octahedral crystal field.

When breathed in the carbon monoxide bonds with the haemoglobin in your blood (actually the iron atom - it complexes it), stopping the transport of oxygen which can no longer bond to the iron atom which has been preferentially complexed by the CO. Incidentally, CN (cyanide) and EDTA and also Paraquat, complex the iron even more strongly which is why they are poisonous.

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Riley Wolf

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3y ago

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