Final answer:
Carbon monoxide has a much higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, creating carboxyhemoglobin and impeding oxygen transportation. Oxygen therapy is used to treat carbon monoxide poisoning as it can displace CO from hemoglobin and facilitate normal oxygen transport.
Step-by-step explanation:
The release of carbon monoxide (CO) from hemoglobin (Hgb) behaves quite differently compared to oxygen (O2). CO has a much higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, which can lead to serious health issues like tissue hypoxia and can be fatal in high concentrations. The bond formed between CO and hemoglobin is known as carboxyhemoglobin. This strong bond means that CO can displace oxygen from hemoglobin, preventing oxygen from being transported to body tissues. In contrast, the transport and release of oxygen from hemoglobin are closely regulated and dependent on tissue needs, and hemoglobin does not usually release all of its oxygen molecules.
Treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning includes administering 100% oxygen to the patient to help displace the CO from hemoglobin since CO has a 200 times greater affinity to hemoglobin compared to oxygen. Hence, high concentrations and pressure of oxygen therapy can dissociate HbCO, allowing for the formation of oxyhemoglobin and the expulsion of CO.