Final answer:
Carbon dioxide assists in medical imaging procedures by enhancing the contrast of barium sulfate in the digestive tract, which is not absorbed by tissues, providing clearer X-ray visuals for diagnosing various gastrointestinal conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon dioxide is used for barium enemas as part of medical imaging procedures, such as those diagnosing gastrointestinal conditions like acid reflux disease, Crohn's disease, ulcers, and other problems. The use of barium sulfate, a compound with minimal solubility, allows it to coat the intestinal tract without being absorbed into tissues, therefore providing enhanced contrast on X-rays. The ingestion of barium sulfate results in areas of the digestive tract appearing white on an X-ray, yielding greater visual detail than traditional imaging methods.