Question

problem a: during exercise red blood cells release more oxygen (o₂) than normal to muscles. this depletes the amount of o₂ available in the red blood cell. they also pick up access carbon dioxide (co₂) from the muscles. the red blood cells need more o₂ and need to get rid of the extra co₂. the red blood cell is going to move to the lungs where it can exchange o₂ and co₂ directly through the cell membrane. what needs to happen with these gases at the lungs for the red blood cells to get back to homeostasis? which did you choose? (problem a) or problem b 1. type of cellular transport: 2. concentration gradient explanation:

Explanation:

1. For the type of cellular transport, it is simple diffusion. Red - blood cells exchange gases ($O_2$ and $CO_2$) with the alveoli in the lungs through the cell membrane without the need for energy or transport proteins as the gases move along their concentration gradients.
2. In the lungs, the concentration of $O_2$ is higher in the alveoli than in the red - blood cells (since red - blood cells have depleted their $O_2$ during exercise). So, $O_2$ diffuses from the alveoli into the red - blood cells. Conversely, the concentration of $CO_2$ is higher in the red - blood cells (because they picked up extra $CO_2$ from the muscles) than in the alveoli, so $CO_2$ diffuses from the red - blood cells into the alveoli. This exchange helps red - blood cells return to homeostasis.

Answer:

1. Simple diffusion
2. $O_2$ diffuses into red - blood cells as its concentration is higher in alveoli; $CO_2$ diffuses out of red - blood cells as its concentration is higher in red - blood cells.