I need this for a science project
2007-12-04 12:56:00 · 4 answers · asked by warman21 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Red blood cells have a special protein in them called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that can hold 4 oxygen molecules. AS the red blood cell (RBC) flows to the lungs, they pass by little balloon like structures in the lung called alveoli. The alveoli have oxygen that you breathed in and the RBC pass very close to these alveoli. The hemoglobin in the RBC has an attraction or affinity for the oxygen so it begins to pick them up from the alveoli. Once all the hemoglobin proteins in the RBC have the oxygen they need, the RBCs are taken by the blood to tissues in the body that need the oxygen you breathed in. The oxygen is dropped off in the tissues, the RBC heads back to the lung, and it all starts over again.
2007-12-04 13:09:20 · answer #1 · answered by Aaronkun 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hemoglobin, a ferrous protein, can bond to oxygen, so the cell delivers it. Carbon monoxide, I believe works by disabling hemoglobin.
2007-12-04 13:56:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Across a concentration gradient in the alveoli. It exchanges with CO2 on deoxygenated blood, using carbonic anhydrase as a catalyst. So it is going from high concentration (air) to low (deoxygenated) blood.
The exchange is actually between the CO2, going from high concentration (blood) to lower concentration (air). The oxygen is exchanged for it as part of the reaction.
2007-12-04 13:08:45 · answer #3 · answered by Labsci 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the oxygen molecules bond to the hemoglobin molecules, thus "absorbing" oxygen... right? yea wut the above person said.
2007-12-04 13:08:55 · answer #4 · answered by commentor 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋