Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Helium is used for respiration in deep water instead of nitrogen because it mixes lesser in blood than nitrogen.
  2. Hemoglobin has higher affinity for oxygen than for carbon monoxide.
  3. Helium gas is filled in chips packets to make them fresh for a long time.

Which of the given statements is/are incorrect?

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Only 1 and 3

  4. Only 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(i) Statement (1) is correct. For respiration by deep sea divers, helium-oxygen mixture is used in preference to nitrogen-oxygen mixture. It is much less soluble in blood than nitrogen. This prevents bends, i.e. the pain caused by formation of nitrogen bubbles in blood veins, when a diver comes to surface. (ii) Statement (2) is wrong. Hemoglobin has higher affinity for carbon monoxide than for oxygen. (iii) Statement (3) is wrong. Nitrogen gas is filled in the chips packets to make them fresh for a long time.

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