Biology Homework

[Myriad2112]

Can anyone help me with my homework?

Explain why you think the carriage of oxygen by haemoglobin is called a reversible reaction.

I don't really understand the question HELP!

[tubeway]

It is reversable as the haemoglobin can "pick up" oxygen to become oxyhaemoglobin, and then can give it up to become haemoglobin. This is how oxygen is carried through the body.
Haemoglobin can absorb other substances such as carbon monoxide causing it to become caroxyhaemoglobin. This is not reversable so will remain as caroxyhaemoglobin, which is how carbon monoxide can kill a person by using up all the haemoglobin.

(I hope this is correct as it is from memory - and is from the Human Biology A' level that I passed in 1979)

[Sasha13]

Good link here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heamoglobin

[Myriad2112]

Thanks Tubeway, It's my second week at Grammer School so I'd like to get it right :)

[Myriad2112]

Thanks Sasha, but that's even more complicated

[tubeway]

Good luck at your new school

(Grammar School btw)