Which of the following polymers contain nitrogen? A) starch B) glycogen C) cellulose D) wax E) hemoglobin
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: E) hemoglobin
Explanation:
Hemoglobin is a protein, which is a type of polymer made from amino acids. Each amino acid contains nitrogen in its amine group (-NHâ‚‚), which is a defining feature of proteins. Therefore, hemoglobin, being a polymer of amino acids, contains nitrogen as a fundamental element in its structure.
Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and plays a critical role in transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues back to the lungs. Its complex structure includes four protein subunits, each with an iron-containing heme group, and the amino acid chains that make up these subunits contain many nitrogen atoms. The presence of nitrogen is essential not only for the structure of hemoglobin but also for its ability to function properly in binding oxygen.
Now, let us examine why the other options do not contain nitrogen:
- A) Starch: This is a carbohydrate polymer made of glucose units. Carbohydrates contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen but no nitrogen.
- B) Glycogen: Like starch, glycogen is also a glucose polymer used for energy storage in animals. It does not contain nitrogen.
- C) Cellulose: Another glucose-based polymer found in plant cell walls. It is similar to starch in composition and lacks nitrogen.
- D) Wax: Waxes are lipids, composed of long chains of fatty acids and alcohols. These contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen but no nitrogen.
In summary, among the listed options, only hemoglobin is made up of nitrogen-containing units. This makes it the only nitrogenous polymer on the list.
