Electrolysis Practice Exam

What gives red corpuscles their characteristic red hue?

1. Myoglobin

2. Hemoglobin

3. Chlorophyll

4. Carotenoids

The correct answer is: Hemoglobin

The characteristic red hue of red corpuscles, also known as red blood cells, is due to hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein found within these cells that binds to oxygen, allowing for its transport throughout the body. The iron component in hemoglobin interacts with oxygen and reflects light in a way that produces the red color we associate with blood. In contrast to hemoglobin, myoglobin is an oxygen-binding protein found in muscle tissue rather than in red blood cells, and it is responsible for storing oxygen in muscle cells. Chlorophyll, on the other hand, is a pigment found in plants that is essential for photosynthesis and gives plants their green color, not affecting the hue of red blood cells. Carotenoids are pigments that contribute to yellow, orange, and red hues found in various fruits and vegetables, but they do not play any role in the coloration of red blood cells. Therefore, the presence of hemoglobin is solely responsible for the red color of red corpuscles.