Asked by Kristin Sfero on Jul 24, 2024

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As acidity increases, how does this affect the affinity of hemoglobin for the oxygen it carries?

A) Oxyhemoglobin affinity decreases.
B) Oxyhemoglobin affinity increases.
C) Oxyhemoglobin affinity remains the same.
D) Hemoglobin loses its affinity for oxygen.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Oxyhemoglobin Affinity

The measure of how readily hemoglobin in red blood cells binds to oxygen, a crucial factor in oxygen transport and delivery to tissues.

Acidity

Acidity is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution, determining its pH level and indicating how acidic or alkaline the solution is.

  • Explain the physiological principles underlying the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve.
  • Describe the effect of physical factors such as temperature and pH on gas exchange efficiency.
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IY
Ioche YahmiJul 25, 2024
Final Answer :
A
Explanation :
As acidity increases (or pH decreases), it leads to a decrease in the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. This is part of the Bohr effect, where hydrogen ions (which increase in concentration as acidity increases) bind to hemoglobin and cause it to change shape slightly, making it release oxygen more easily.