Final answer:
Prefluorinated hydrocarbon chains can be used as a synthetic oxygen carrier, effectively replacing hemoglobin in emergency situations due to their ability to dissolve oxygen at concentrations similar to that of normal blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
Prefluorinated hydrocarbon chains can be used instead of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that binds oxygen and facilitates its transport from the lungs to the tissues. The molecules of prefluorinated hydrocarbons, which are based on fluorinated alkanes, have been developed as synthetic oxygen carriers. These blood substitutes offer an alternative to donated whole blood, providing several advantages such as not requiring refrigeration and having a long shelf life. The high Henry's law constant for O₂ in these synthetic carriers allows them to dissolve oxygen in concentrations comparable to that found in normal blood, making them suitable for emergency replacement.