- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Zoology
- Chapter
- Breathing and Exchange of Gases
NEET · Zoology · Breathing and Exchange of Gases
How many molecules of O₂ can be carried by each haemoglobin...
Options
- A1
- B2
- C3
- D4
Correct answer
D. 4
Step-by-step solution
Haemoglobin is a red coloured iron containing pigment present in the RBCs. O₂ can bind with haemoglobin in a reversible manner to form oxyhaemoglobin. Each haemoglobin molecule can carry a maximum of four molecules of O₂. Binding of oxygen with haemoglobin is primarily related to partial pressure of O₂. Partial pressure of CO₂, hydrogen ion concentration and temperature are the other factors which can interfere with this binding. A sigmoid curve is obtained when percentage saturation of haemoglobin with O₂ is plotted against the pO2. This curve is called the Oxygen dissociation curve and is highly useful in studying the effect of factors like pCO2, H⁺ concentration, etc., on binding of O₂ with haemoglobin.