Q1. Human breathing process.
A. (12.5 pts) Hemoglobin (Hb) is an oxygen transport protein, and there are approximately 300 million hemoglobin molecules per red blood cell. The combination of oxygen with
hemoglobin, can be represented by the reaction
Hb (aq) + O2 (aq) → HbO2 (aq)
where HbO2 is oxyhemoglobin (oxygen bound to hemoglobin).
At high altitudes, a human body may face with hypoxia. The partial pressure of oxygen at sea level is three times more than the partial pressure of oxygen at an altitude of 4000 m. Given these information, explain how the hypoxia can be compensated by the human body (Explain your answer in a paragraph (max ~100 words) )
B. (12.5 pts) Glucose (C6H12O6) reacts with oxygen (O2) in the cells, and it produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) plus energy. We use the energy, and the carbon dioxide is breathed out as gas.
The most important extracellular system in the blood is the bicarbonate system (H2CO3/HCO3- buffer) which can be represented by:
CO2(aq) + 2H2O(l) ⇌ H2CO3(aq) + H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq) + HCO3-(aq)
Respiratory alkalosis is a condition in which the pH of the blood is above normal. The increase in pH (increase H3O+ concentration) is often caused by hyperventilation (excessively rapid breathing). When a person hyperventilates they exhale more carbon dioxide than normal. As a result, the carbon dioxide concentration in the blood is reduced. Respiratory alkalosis is treated by having the hyperventilating person inhale and exhale into a paper bag. Explain how this treatment help the person to get normal.
Hint: Think about how the dissolved gases are affected in the reduced CO2 concentration. Explain your answer in a paragraph (max ~100 words).