In the lung alveoli, the oxygen partial pressure is about 100 mm of mercury, or 0.13 Atm. If blood was solely composed of a sali
ne solution (lacking any hemoglobin), oxygen equilibrates with the alveolar air to a concentration of about 3 mg/L or 0.093 mm). In oxygen-saturated blood, however, the O2 concentration is about 0.008 M (8 mm). Required:
a. What is the Henry's Law constant for oxygen in saline?
b. What is the Henry's Law constant for oxygen in blood?
c. How much does the presence of hemoglobin enhance oxygen solubility in blood (i.e. what is the ratio in blood vs saline)?
