Final answer:
The risk factors that lead to increased production of CO with soda lime are high temperatures and a desiccated absorbent. These factors create conditions that are less effective for CO₂ absorption and promote chemical reactions that generate CO.
Step-by-step explanation:
The risk factors that increase the production of carbon monoxide (CO) with soda lime in medical settings are high temperatures and desiccated absorbent. This is option C. Soda lime is used to absorb CO₂ in medical environments, such as during anesthesia, where gases are recycled to allow patients to rebreathe previously exhaled gases while removing the CO₂. When soda lime becomes desiccated, or dried out, it is less effective at absorbing CO₂. Additionally, chemical reactions within the soda lime that lead to CO production are increased at higher temperatures. In other chemistry contexts, gas solubility in liquids is influenced by temperature and pressure. For example, solubility of CO₂ in water decreases with higher temperatures, which is observable when carbonated beverages lose their fizz upon warming or opening. In industrial settings, like with the production of quicklime, CO₂ is a by-product where high temperatures drive the chemical reaction forward, demonstrating Le Chatelier's principle.