Explain Why Are Mountain Climbers At An Increased Risk Of Hypoxia

Acid-Base and Equilibrium:
Why are mountain climbers at an increased risk of hypoxia? Equilibrium is a state in which both reactants and products are present in a concentration. An equilibrium reaction is a reversible reaction that can move both forward and backwards direction and be equal to each other. Equilibrium is reached when there are no further changes in the concentration of both the product and reactant.
Le Chaterlier’s Principle states that when equilibrium is disturbed, the rate of the forward and reverse reaction change to relieve the stress and reestablish equilibrium. If more product is added the system will move to the reactant. To reestablish the equilibrium one must remove some of the reactant causing the system to shift in
One of the characteristics of hypoxia is increased respiratory rate, which cause decreased mental acuteness. If the equilibrium isn’t reestablished and the air pressure increases, it will make it harder for the climbers to breath. Mountain climbers are exposed to the disruption of decreased air pressure to their equilibrium system, therefor the climbers have to carry oxygen in a tank to help them breath. Hemoglobin is a components of red blood cells which is composed of “heme” protein. This protein helps transport the oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin is the reactant responsible for the equilibrium of the respiratory system. At high altitude the hemoglobin equilibrium becomes disrupted. An excessive amount of time spent in high or too low altitude impacts the hemoglobin equilibrium. Each time the altitude is increased the oxygen level decreases causing the mountain climbers respiratory rate increases because the oxygen that is being inhaled is dry air and not moist air. As the oxygen level decreases it will shift the direction of the reactant to reestablish