All about carbon monoxide(CO)

Carbon monoxide is an unstable molecule readily convert into carbon dioxide (CO2). But somehow it is inhaled by human or animal it works as a "silent killer " its destroy the conduction of oxyzen  in blood.

Let's see what actually happened, 

In blood (RBC) there is a molecule called hemoglobin which is octahedral in structure.

The center is occupied by a Fe2+ ion and the four corner of the square base is occupied by four "N" atom of heme group.

One of the Axial posion is occupied by "N" of histidin and the other axial position is becomes  unoccupied.

Which is the actual structure of hemoglobin.

When a human being or animal inhales Oxyzen from environment the gas combines with hemoglobin of "Red blood cell " in lungs and makes oxyhemoglobin as there is a vacant axial position in hemoglobin. Oxygen occupies that position.

Hb + O2 ➡ HbO2

This oxyhemoglobin molecule breaks  into hemoglobin and oxygen in contact with Muscle cells.

HbO2 (dissocation) ➡ Hb + O2

But somehow the human or animal inales carbon monoxide then the vacant position of hemoglobin is occupied by carbon monoxide as the affinity of CO is greater than that of Oxygen.

Hb + CO ➡ HbCO

This results in the reduction of quantity of oxygen in body.

As a result in contact with muscle cells hemoglobin cant provide oxygen. which is called "anoxia"Cells become deprive of oxygen and fail of respiratoion is occured which causes dieing of cells. Which may lead to death of animal or human.

Monitoring 

Monitoring of carbon monoxide pollution is  done by  non dispersive  infra-red spectrsmetry.  It is possible to estimate CO up to a level of 150 ppm.  

This process is based on the principle  that carbon monoxide can  absorb infra red radiation at cetrain specific wavelength and is equal to the concentration of molecule present.

 If the concentration is nearly 10 ppm then gas chromatography is  used where a flame ionisation detector is used   .  And if it is >10 ppm  then it is reduced at 350°c with Ni/Pt /Pd  catalyst. 

   CO   +   3H2   ➡    CH4   +    H2O. 

And then CH4 is estimated by flam ionization detector .     

Read more

Carbon dioxide pollution. sources of Carbon dioxide,Green house  effect and importance of carbon dioxide on environment.Consumers and controlling.