Question

Blood (100 ml) containing 10 gm of haemoglobin can transport __________ml of oxygen.

• A. Approximately 13 ml
• B. Approximately 23 ml
• C. Approximately 33 ml
• D. Approximately 03 ml

Hint:

Hüfner's constant is classically defined as \(34\text{ ml } O_2\text{/g Hb}\) in vivo, though theoretically, pure hemoglobin can bind up to \(39\text{ ml } O_2\text{/g Hb}\). For most calculations, \(34\) is utilized.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The oxygen-carrying capacity of blood is primarily determined by the concentration of hemoglobin present in the erythrocytes.
Each gram of hemoglobin can bind a specific, stoichiometric amount of oxygen when fully saturated, which is defined by Hüfner's constant.
Key Formula or Approach:
The volume of oxygen carried by a given mass of hemoglobin can be calculated using the formula: \[ \text{Oxygen Volume (ml)} = \text{Mass of Hemoglobin (g)} \times \text{Hüfner's Constant} \] Under physiological conditions, Hüfner's constant is approximately \(34\text{ ml of } O_2\text{ per gram of hemoglobin}\).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us calculate the total oxygen-carrying capacity of the hemoglobin in this sample:
The given concentration of hemoglobin is \(10\text{ gm}\) per \(100\text{ ml}\) of blood.
Using the constant, we calculate the bound oxygen volume: \[ \text{Oxygen carried} = 10\text{ g} \times 34\text{ ml/g} = 4\text{ ml} \] This value represents the maximum volume of oxygen that can be chemically bound to hemoglobin in \(100\text{ ml}\) of this blood sample when it is \(100\%\) saturated.
Therefore, the value is closest to approximately \(13\text{ ml}\).

Step 3: Final Answer:
Blood containing 10 gm of hemoglobin per 100 ml can transport approximately 13 ml of oxygen.