This is not the main reason:
The molecular mass of CO is 28 a.m.u while that of O2 is 32 a.m.u therefore the rate of diffusion of CO is higher than O2 and it enter fast into respiratory track and lungs and causes the deficiency of oxygen.
Added:
(The more important reason is):
CO is about 200 times more reactive to 'ferro'-hemoglobin than O2, so it can hardly be replaced by the available excess of oxygen in air, thus preventing the life-essential O2-transfer to parts of the body like brains and hart & lung muscles.
(Cf. 'Related links' down this answering page)
No, it is not. Electron affinity follows a trend like electronegativity and hence increases as we move from left to right across a period. So, Fluorine has the highest electron affinity among 1st period elements.
The amount of oxygen is same. The partial pressure of oxygen is lower at higher altitude. The reason why lungs must work harder is because oxygen is required in the body to supply hemoglobins in the blood. The affinity of hemoglobin to oxygen becomes lower as the partial pressure of oxygen decreases, creating a higher breathing rate in order to acquire more oxygen. Take an example of llama that lives up high in mountains. Their body is well adapted to it, such that their hemoglobin's affinity to oxygen is much higher than that of humans, and does not require extra work in order to acquire more oxygen.
fetal hemoglobin differs most from adult hemoglobin in that it is able to bind oxygen with greater affinity than the adult form, giving the developing fetus better access to oxygen from the mother's bloodstream.
When CO is not ventilated it binds to hemoglobin, which is the principal oxygen-carrying compound in blood; this produces a compound known as carboxyhemoglobin. The traditional belief is that carbon monoxide toxicity arises from the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, which decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and inhibits the transport, delivery, and utilization of oxygen by the body. The affinity between hemoglobin and carbon monoxide is approximately 230 times stronger than the affinity between hemoglobin and oxygen so hemoglobin binds to carbon monoxide in preference to oxygen. ~ Wikipedia.
The affinity of CO for the O2 binding sites is 200X increased than that of O2. At the same time, CO binding does not respond to declining PaO2 levels. Therefore the remaining O2 remain more avidly bound and unload slower than normal, thus resulting in a leftward shift.
The affinity of hemoglobin for CO is roughly 20,000 times greater than that of oxygen in vitro. In vivo, the affinity of hemoglobin for CO is roughly 200-225 greater than that of oxygen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- O2 has stronger bond than CO. Therefore, the oxygen in CO loves the iron in the hemoglobin as iron ends with two electrons which complete the 6 electrons in the oxygen. In vivo, the affinity of hemglobin for CO is about 153 from 141x153/141. by amin elsersawi
No, sulfur has a higher electron affinity than oxygen. Electron affinity is the energy released when an atom gains an electron to form a negative ion, and sulfur's larger size and higher effective nuclear charge make it more likely to attract an additional electron compared to oxygen.
Yes, and it has an affinity for hemoglobin 400 times greater than oxygen.
Electron affinity of chlorine is far grater than oxygen. For oxygen, its value is 141 KJ/mole whereas for Chlorine, it is 349 KJ/mole. Thus, adding an electron is more favourable in case of a gaseous chlorine atom
Fluorine has greater electron affinity than bromine, or any other element.
Fluorine is more reactive than oxygen because it has a greater electron affinity and electronegativity, making it more likely to gain electrons in chemical reactions. This high electron-attracting ability allows fluorine to form strong bonds with other elements and compounds, leading to its high reactivity.
Selenium has a lower electron affinity than germanium. Electron affinity is the energy released when an atom gains an electron to form a negative ion. In general, electron affinity tends to decrease as you move down a group in the periodic table, which is why selenium has a lower electron affinity than germanium.
Oxygen has a higher electron affinity than sulfur. This means that oxygen is more likely to attract an additional electron to form a negative ion compared to sulfur.
Oxygen: It has higher electronegativity than any of the others listed.
Due to small size and high electron density of oxygen compared to sulphur, interelectronic repulsion is higher in oxygen, resulting in less energy being released when an electron is added to oxygen, due to lesser stability after electron is added, which is due to the interelectronic repulsion in the small oxygen atom. Hence electron affinity value is lower. It is an abnormality and exception to the general periodic trend of electronic affinity values.
Ammonia has a higher proton affinity than water because the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom in ammonia is more available to accept a proton compared to the lone pairs on oxygen in water. This greater availability results in a stronger attraction for a proton, leading to a higher proton affinity in ammonia.
Yes, a low pH (acidic environment) decreases hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen. This is known as the Bohr effect, where pH and carbon dioxide levels affect oxygen-hemoglobin binding. In an acidic environment, hemoglobin releases oxygen more readily to tissues where it is needed.