Pilots can fly close to 10,000 feet without having to pressurize their cabin because the affinity of hemoglobin for $O_2$ changes with altitude blood levels of $CO_2$ will rapidly decrease with altitude the hemoglobin affinity of $O_2$ is right-shifted hemoglobin will still be 90% saturated with $O_2$ at that altitude the movement of the airplane through the sky will force air into their lungs
Added by Diego H.
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The question asks why pilots can fly at 10,000 feet without pressurizing the cabin. This implies that even at lower oxygen partial pressures at higher altitudes, sufficient oxygen is still being transported to the pilots. Show more…
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Hemoglobin Rises to the Challenge People often feel tired when they climb mountains. The lower blood concentration of oxygenated hemoglobin and light-headed for some time because the mountain air means that fewer oxygen molecules are released in other parts contains fewer oxygen molecules. Over time, the fatigue lessens. The body adapts by adjusting the lower oxygen producing of the protein hemoglobin concentration by producing more hemoglobin, part of which binds with oxygen molecules that enter your bloodstream. The equilibrium position shifts back to the right, producing oxygenated hemoglobin (Hb(O2)). The equilibrium of hemoglobin and oxygen is represented as follows: Hb(aq) + 4O2(g) ⇌ Hb(O2)4(aq) The increased concentration of Hb(O2) (aq) means that more oxygen molecules can be released for body tissues. The equilibrium reacts to this stress by consuming oxygen molecules at an increased rate. The equilibrium shifts to the right, increasing the blood concentration of Hb(O2) (aq). When the Hb(O2) reaches body tissues where oxygen concentrations are low, the equilibrium shifts to the left, releasing oxygen to enable the metabolic processes that produce energy: Hb(aq) + 4O2(g) ⇌ Hb(O2)4(aq) On Mount Everest, climbers might ascend to Camp II, descend to Base Camp, and then ascend to Camp IV over the course of several days to prepare for a summit climb. At the summit of Mount Everest, the partial pressure is much lower than at the base of the mountain. Therefore, each breath that a person draws contains fewer oxygen molecules. The equilibrium reacts to the stress of breathing in thin mountain air by producing oxygen at an increased rate. The equilibrium shift to the left releases oxygen molecules in your lungs, leaving less oxygenated hemoglobin in your blood. The equilibrium reacts to this stress by consuming oxygen molecules at an increased rate. The equilibrium shifts to the right, increasing the blood concentration of Hb(O2) (aq).
Sri K.
Increasing BPG concentrations within the blood stream will; allow hemoglobin to release more oxygen at elevation because more oxygen will be bound allow hemoglobin to release less oxygen at elevation because less oxygen will be bound: decrease hemoglobin's Pso for oxygen. leads altitude sickness None of the above
Adi S.
At high altitude or people suffering from hypoxia, concentration of BPG in blood is always higher because BPG has less affinity toward oxygen. As BPG binds to hemoglobin, the affinity of hemoglobin toward oxygen decreases considerably and oxygen is delivered to cells. BPG is easily available at high altitude. None of the above.
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