Question

Is blood a mixture?

Answer 1

Hint: Blood performs various functions in the human body. The main function of blood is the transport of oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues. Other functions of blood include- it helps in regulation of body temperature, fight against infections, helps in clotting etc.

Complete answer:
The blood is a heterogeneous mixture of both solid and liquid parts. The plasma is the liquid part of blood that consists of salts, water and many proteins. The solid part of the blood consists of formed elements. Red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBC) and platelets are the formed elements of blood. The plasma makes up 55% of human blood. The remaining 45% is made up of formed elements. The main function of the blood plasma is clotting of blood.
RBCs are also called erythrocytes. They are biconcave in shape that helps in increasing surface area. Nucleus is absent in RBCs. The haemoglobin is present in RBCs which contain iron. It gives red color to the RBCs. The normal lifespan of RBCs is 120 days. When their life span ends, they are destroyed in the spleen.
WBCs are also called leukocytes. They are white in colour because of the absence of haemoglobin. Nucleus is present in these cells. They have a short life span of around 13-20 days. They are present in lesser numbers than RBCs. When their life span ends, they are destroyed in the lymphatic system.
Platelets are formed from the special cells of the bone marrow called megakaryocytes. Thrombocytes is another name for platelets. They are short lived. They have a lifespan of 5-9 days. When their life span ends, they are removed from the bloodstream.
Hence, blood is a mixture of plasma and formed elements.

Note:
Normally, 1 500,00-3,500,00 platelets are present in 1mL of blood. As platelets are involved in the activation and release of various clotting factors, a significant decrease in their number can cause various serious clotting disorders. This results in excessive loss of blood from the body of the affected person.