. Hemoglobin (Hb) and oxygen gas form a complex (HbO2) that carries oxygen throughout the human body. Unfortunately, carbon mono
xide also binds to hemoglobin so that an equilibrium is established. Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs when the concentration of HbO2 in the blood is reduced. HbO2 CO HbCO O2 The first aid for a person suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning is to (1) remove them to an area of fresh air, and (2) administer oxygen. Using the principles of equilibrium, explain how each of these helps to restore the HbO2 concentration.
1. Removing them to an area of fresh air. This helps to prevents further poisoning by the carbon monoxide and increase the amount of oxygen entering into the body. This will help to reduce the concentration of carbon monoxide binding oxygen
2. Administering pure oxygen goes a long way to enhance ventilation and increase the oxygen saturation to 100%. This will help to overcome the effect of the carbon monoxide and promote more hemoglobin binding
<em>Chemists use the mole unit to represent 6.022 × 10 23 things, whether the things are atoms of elements or molecules of compounds. This number, called Avogadro's number, is important because this number of atoms or molecules has the same mass in grams as one atom or molecule has in atomic mass units. </em>
Divide the mass of the compound in grams by the molar mass you just calculated. The answer is the number of moles of that mass of compound. For example, 25 grams of water equals 25/18.016 or 1.39 moles.
