If you breathe pure co2 what will happen?

If you breathe pure carbon dioxide (CO2), it can lead to serious health problems and potential life-threatening conditions. Here's what can happen:

1. Hypercapnia: Pure CO2 contains almost no oxygen, which is essential for cellular respiration and the functioning of the brain and other organs. Breathing pure CO2 causes a rapid increase in carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream, leading to a condition called hypercapnia.

2. Respiratory Distress: The lack of oxygen and elevated CO2 levels cause respiratory distress. The body attempts to compensate by increasing the rate and depth of breathing, but this may not be sufficient to meet the oxygen demands of the body's tissues.

3. Rapid Heart Rate (Tachycardia): The body's attempt to compensate for the lack of oxygen can put stress on the heart, causing a rapid heartbeat.

4. Headache, Dizziness, and Confusion: The increased CO2 levels in the bloodstream can affect brain function, causing symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, and impaired consciousness.

5. Loss of Consciousness: Prolonged exposure to pure CO2 can lead to unconsciousness as the brain and other organs are deprived of oxygen.

6. Cardiac Arrest: In severe cases, prolonged exposure to pure CO2 can cause cardiac arrest due to the lack of oxygen reaching the heart muscle.

7. Death: If medical attention is not obtained quickly, breathing pure CO2 can lead to death from asphyxiation or cardiac arrest.

It's important to note that breathing pure CO2 is not a common occurrence in everyday life. CO2 is a natural component of the Earth's atmosphere, but its concentration is typically around 0.04% (400 parts per million). Breathing highly concentrated CO2, such as in confined or industrial spaces, is where the risk of these adverse effects becomes more significant.