Answer:
Due to the limited supply of oxygen, carbon (ii) oxide, a poisonous gas, is produced instead of carbon(iv) from the burning charcoal stove and this may result in death when inhaled.
Step-by-step explanation:
When charcoal is burnt in a plentiful supply of oxygen, the combustion products is carbon (iv) oxide (carbon dioxide) which is not very toxic to the human body. The equation of the reaction is given below:
C + O₂ ----> CO₂
However, in a limited supply of oxygen gas, the combustion product is carbon (ii) oxide. The equation of the reaction is given below:
2C + O₂ ----> 2CO
Carbon (ii) oxide is a colorless and odorless gas which unlike carbon (iv) oxide is very toxic to human and results in fatality when inhaled in even small doses for a few minutes. Its mechanism of action of toxicity is that it competes with oxygen for transport in the body by hemoglobin. It combines irreversibly with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin, thereby depriving tissues and cells the oxygen they need. This results in death of the cells and tissues as well as of the whole organism. Thus, it is not advisable to light a charcoal stove in limited supply of oxygen.