Question

The combination of oxygen with haemoglobin is called as
A. Oxidation
B. Oxyhemoglobin
C. Reduction
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: When haemoglobin that is protein molecules bind to oxygen then there is formation of a bright red substance which is present in the oxygenated blood.

Complete answer:
Haemoglobin is a protein molecule in RBCs - red blood cells which carry oxygen from the lungs and transport it to the body’s tissues and from the tissues, it returns carbon dioxide back to the lungs. When there is a combination of oxygen with haemoglobin then there is formation of a bright red substance called oxyhemoglobin and it is present in oxygenated blood.

If we look at options,
> Option A - Oxidation.
Oxidation is an energy producing reaction occurring in living cells and this reaction represents the main source of biological energy. When there is a combination of oxygen with haemoglobin then it is termed oxyhemoglobin not oxidation. Therefore, this option is incorrect and it gets eliminated.

> Option B - Oxyhemoglobin.
It is the correct option as oxyhemoglobin is a bright red substance formed by the combination of oxygen with haemoglobin and that is what has been asked in the question. Therefore, this option is the correct one.

> Option C - Reduction.
It is also a chemical reaction which represents the main source of biological energy. When there is a combination of oxygen with haemoglobin then it is termed oxyhemoglobin not reduction. Therefore, this option is incorrect and it gets eliminated.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B).

Note: When the protein molecule binds with the oxygen then there is formation of oxyhemoglobin which functions to transport the oxygen to the tissues from the lungs. There are four binding sites in hemoglobin for oxygen molecules which means each Hb can bind with four oxygen molecules.