Final answer:
Carbon monoxide has a greater affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, preventing oxygen from binding to hemoglobin. Administering 100 percent oxygen is the usual treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Carbon monoxide (CO) has a greater affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen. When carbon monoxide is present, it binds to hemoglobin preferentially over oxygen, preventing oxygen from binding to hemoglobin. This leads to very little oxygen being transported through the body. Administering 100 percent oxygen is the usual treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning, as it speeds up the separation of carbon monoxide from hemoglobin.