Final answer:
When a person breathes in excessive amounts of carbon monoxide, it binds to hemoglobin preferentially over oxygen, leading to a lack of oxygen in the blood. Symptoms can include headaches, confusion, and nausea, and in severe cases, carbon monoxide poisoning can cause brain damage or death. Treatment involves administering pure oxygen to displace the carbon monoxide.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon monoxide (CO) has a greater affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, so when a person breathes in excessive amounts of carbon monoxide, it binds to hemoglobin preferentially over oxygen. As a result, very little oxygen is transported through the body, leading to a lack of oxygen in the blood. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, confusion, nausea, and in severe cases, brain damage or death.
The treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning involves administering 100 percent (pure) oxygen to displace the carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.