Final answer:
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colorless, odorless, and nonirritating gas that reduces the delivery of oxygen in the blood to body tissues. It is produced during incomplete burning of organic matter and can result in symptoms like headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and in severe cases, even death.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a tasteless, colorless, odorless, and nonirritating gas that reduces the delivery of oxygen in the blood to body tissues. It is produced during incomplete burning of organic matter, such as from motor vehicles, heaters, or cooking equipment that run on carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide primarily causes adverse effects by combining with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO), preventing the blood from carrying oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide as carbaminohemoglobin. This can result in symptoms like headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, and in severe cases, even death.