3.3 Topic 3 - 3.3.4 Mass transport - 3.3.4.1 Mass transport in animals

Question 1

Is haemoglobin a large or small protein?

Answer 1

Large.

Question 2

What level of protein structure is haemoglobin in?

Answer 2

Quaternary.

Question 3

How many polypeptide chains is haemoglobin made from?

Answer 3

4.

Question 4

What group does each polypeptide chain have? + what ion does it contain?

Answer 4

Haem group, which contains an iron ion.

Question 5

True or false? The haem group in haemoglobin gives it its red colour.

Answer 5

True.

Question 6

Does haemoglobin have a high or low affinity for oxygen?

Answer 6

High.

Question 7

How many oxygen molecules can haemoglobin carry?

Answer 7

4.

Question 8

What forms when oxygen joins to haemoglobin in red blood cells in the lungs?

Answer 8

Oxyghaemoglobin.

Question 9

Is this a reversible reaction? + how?
Haemoglobin + oxygen = oxyheamoglobin.

Answer 9

Yes. When oxygen leaves oxyhaemoglobin [dissociates from it] near the body cells, it turns back to haemoglobin.

Question 10

What does haemoglobin saturation depend on?

Answer 10

Depends on the partial pressure of oxygen.