As stated in the chapter, carbon monoxide has a much higher affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen does.
(a) Write the equilibrium constant expression (Kc) for the following process:

where HbO2 and HbCO are oxygenated hemoglobin and carboxyhemoglobin, respectively.
(b) The composition of a breath of air inhaled by a person smoking a cigarette is 1.9 × 10-6 mol/L CO and 8.6 × 10-3 mol/L O2. Calculate the ratio of [HbCO] to [HbO2], given that Kc is 212 at 37°C.

Transcribed Image Text:

-(aq) 。