Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Hemoglobin picks up __________ once it has given up all of its oxygen molecules?
A
nitrogen
B
carbon dioxide
C
glucose
D
hydrogen
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of hemoglobin in the body: Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and returning carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs.
Recognize the process of gas exchange: In the lungs, hemoglobin binds to oxygen molecules. As blood circulates to tissues, oxygen is released, and carbon dioxide is picked up for transport back to the lungs.
Identify the correct gas exchanged: Once hemoglobin has released its oxygen molecules, it binds to carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of cellular metabolism, to be transported back to the lungs for exhalation.
Consider the options provided: Nitrogen is not typically transported by hemoglobin in the blood. Glucose is a sugar molecule involved in energy production, not gas exchange. Hydrogen is not directly involved in the gas exchange process with hemoglobin.
Conclude with the correct answer: Hemoglobin picks up carbon dioxide after releasing oxygen, as part of the respiratory gas exchange process.