Question

A typical red blood cell contains about 270 million hemoglobin molecules. If one red blood cell bound the maximum amount of O2 as it passed through the lungs, how many molecules of oxygen could it theoretically carry to the tissues?

Answer 1

Answer:

given,

a typical RBC contains about 270 million hemoglobin molecules.

one Hb molecule carries 4 oxygen molecules.

  1 Hb molecule contains = 4 O₂ molecules.

then, 270 million Hb will contain = 270×4 million O₂ molecules.

                                                      = 1080 million  O₂ molecules.

theoretically, it is possible.

Explanation:

hemoglobin has two alpha and two beta subunits. each subunits contains 1 molecule of oxygen. 98.5%  O₂ is bond to hemoglobin.