Final answer:
Carbon dioxide detectors do not typically change color; they measure CO2 levels to ensure ventilation effectiveness, with healthcare devices displaying measurements digitally. Carbon monoxide detectors are critical as CO is a colorless, odorless, and potentially deadly gas, which underscores the importance of detecting CO over other gases like ammonia or natural gas, which are detectable by smell.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original question seems to refer to a carbon dioxide detector in the context of lung ventilation, but the actual question provided details about the importance of a carbon monoxide detector. A CO2 detector does not typically change color; instead, it measures the concentration of carbon dioxide to ensure proper ventilation. However, in healthcare settings, devices like capnometers are used to determine the effectiveness of lung ventilation by measuring the amount of CO2 in exhaled air, but they usually display measurements digitally or with waveforms, not by changing color.
Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are crucial in homes and closed spaces because CO is a colorless and odorless gas which can be fatal at high levels, interfering with the oxygen delivery in the body. Unlike other gases like ammonia or natural gas, which have distinct smells and are therefore more likely to be noticed when they are present, CO can accumulate without detection, leading to poisoning without warning.
The process of ventilation is crucial as it removes carbon dioxide, a byproduct of cellular respiration, from the bloodstream. In the lungs, CO2 is exhaled and oxygen is inhaled, maintaining the balance of gases in the body and preventing the development of conditions like acidosis, particularly during high levels of metabolism such as during strenuous exercise.