Final answer:
Hemoglobin is the molecule in red blood cells that binds to oxygen, with each molecule carrying up to four oxygen molecules due to its four iron-containing heme groups.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hemoglobin is the molecule found in red blood cells that binds to up to four oxygen molecules. It is a protein molecule made up of four subunits: two alpha subunits and two beta subunits. Each subunit surrounds a central heme group that contains iron and binds one oxygen molecule, allowing each hemoglobin molecule to bind four oxygen molecules. Oxygen molecules are carried by hemoglobin from the lungs to the body's tissues, where they are released to provide oxygen to the cells.
The molecule found in red blood cells that can bind to up to four oxygen molecules is hemoglobin. Hemoglobin (Hb) is a protein molecule made up of four subunits: two alpha and two beta globins. Each of these subunits surrounds a central heme group that contains iron. This iron is crucial as it binds one oxygen molecule, allowing a single hemoglobin molecule to carry four oxygen molecules. A single erythrocyte, which is another name for a red blood cell, may contain about 300 million hemoglobin molecules. Consequently, one erythrocyte can transport up to 1.2 billion oxygen molecules, significantly impacting the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.