Question

Each complete hemoglobin molecule can carry:

A. One platelet
B. One red blood cell
C. Four oxygen molecules
D. Two white blood cells

Answer 1

Each complete hemoglobin molecule can carry four oxygen molecules due to its structure of four subunits, each capable of binding a single oxygen molecule.

Step-by-step explanation:

Each complete hemoglobin molecule is capable of carrying four oxygen molecules. Hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells, is composed of four subunits, each with a heme group that binds one molecule of iron, which in turn can bind one oxygen molecule. This allows a single hemoglobin molecule to transport up to four oxygen molecules. It is fascinating to note that one erythrocyte, or red blood cell, can contain about 300 million hemoglobin molecules, which means it can carry more than 1 billion oxygen molecules.