Using Le Châtelier's Principle, explain why people suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning are given pure oxygen to breathe in order to reverse the poisoning?

See explanation

Explanation:

Carbon monoxide is toxic because it can successfully competes with oxygen for hemoglobin (Hb) sites according to the following equilibrium:

Hb (O₂) ₄ (aq) + 4CO (g) ⇄ Hb (CO) ₄ (aq) + 4O₂ (g)

Based on LeChatelier's Principle, CO poisoning can be reversed by applying O₂ (g) to victim. This addition of O₂ (g) increases system concentration of O₂ (g) in the equilibrium reaction thereby overloading the product side of the equilibrium forcing it to shift to the left, decomposing the carboxyhemoglobin (Hb (CO) ₄) and releasing the CO (g) and combining with O₂ (g) to form more Hb (O₂) ₄.