Chapter 15: Problem 15
There are four iron atoms in each hemoglobin molecule. The mass percent of iron in a hemoglobin molecule is \(0.35 \%\). Estimate the molar mass of hemoglobin.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Answer: The estimated molar mass of hemoglobin is about 63816 g/mol.
Step by step solution
01
Find the molar mass of iron
The molar mass of iron can be found in the periodic table. Iron (Fe) has a molar mass of approximately 55.84 g/mol.
02
Calculate the total mass of iron in a hemoglobin molecule
Since there are 4 iron atoms in each hemoglobin molecule, we can find the total mass of iron in the molecule by multiplying the molar mass of iron with the number of iron atoms.
Total mass of iron = (4 iron atoms) x (55.84 g/mol iron)
Total mass of iron \(\approx\) 223.36 g/mol
03
Determine the mass of the hemoglobin molecule
We are given that iron makes up \(0.35\%\) of the mass of a hemoglobin molecule. To find the total mass of the hemoglobin molecule, we can divide the total mass of iron in the molecule by the given mass percentage.
Total mass of hemoglobin = (Total mass of iron) / (Mass percentage of iron)
Total mass of hemoglobin = (223.36 g/mol) / (0.0035)
Total mass of hemoglobin \(\approx\) 63816 g/mol
04
Estimate the molar mass of hemoglobin
Now that we have found the total mass of the hemoglobin molecule, we can estimate the molar mass of hemoglobin as:
Molar mass of hemoglobin \(\approx\) 63816 g/mol
So, the estimated molar mass of hemoglobin is about 63816 g/mol.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Understanding Hemoglobin Structure
Hemoglobin is a fascinating protein essential for life. It is primarily found in red blood cells and is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Its structure is quite complex, consisting of four protein subunits, each of which contains an iron atom. This iron is crucial, as it binds to oxygen, enabling hemoglobin to carry it to different parts of the body.
- Hemoglobin is a quaternary protein with four chains: two alpha and two beta. - Each chain contains a heme group, which is where the iron atom resides. - The presence of iron gives blood its characteristic red color.
The iron atoms in hemoglobin play a vital role in its function. Without iron, hemoglobin wouldn't be able to bind or carry oxygen effectively. This intricate design underscores hemoglobin's importance in physiology and how integral its structure is to its function.
- Hemoglobin is a quaternary protein with four chains: two alpha and two beta. - Each chain contains a heme group, which is where the iron atom resides. - The presence of iron gives blood its characteristic red color.
The iron atoms in hemoglobin play a vital role in its function. Without iron, hemoglobin wouldn't be able to bind or carry oxygen effectively. This intricate design underscores hemoglobin's importance in physiology and how integral its structure is to its function.
Mass Percent Calculation in Hemoglobin
Mass percent is a way to express how much of a particular element or component is present in a compound. This is crucial for understanding the composition of complex molecules like hemoglobin. In our exercise, we calculated the mass percent of iron in hemoglobin.
Here's how you typically calculate mass percent:
This calculation is important for both chemistry and biology, as it allows scientists to understand the relative contributions of the different atoms that make up a molecule. This percentage helps in quantifying how much of a compound is due to a specific element, which is particularly important for biochemical compounds like hemoglobin.
Here's how you typically calculate mass percent:
- Identify the mass of the specific component (like iron) in the overall compound.
- Divide this mass by the total mass of the compound.
- Multiply by 100 to convert it into a percentage.
This calculation is important for both chemistry and biology, as it allows scientists to understand the relative contributions of the different atoms that make up a molecule. This percentage helps in quantifying how much of a compound is due to a specific element, which is particularly important for biochemical compounds like hemoglobin.
The Role of Iron in Hemoglobin
Iron is a cornerstone element in the function of hemoglobin, and understanding its role is vital to grasp how hemoglobin works. Each hemoglobin molecule contains four iron atoms, which are housed within heme groups. These heme groups are part of the larger globin proteins that make up hemoglobin.
- Iron enables the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin. - Without sufficient iron, hemoglobin can't transport oxygen efficiently, leading to conditions like anemia.
Iron's high affinity for oxygen allows hemoglobin to pick up oxygen in the lungs and release it where it's needed in tissues. This makes iron absolutely essential for cellular respiration and energy metabolism.
Understanding this helps explain why maintaining adequate iron levels is critical for health, particularly for forming healthy red blood cells and avoiding fatigue or paleness that can result from iron deficiency. Keeping an eye on the amount of iron is important, especially for athletes or those with specific dietary needs.
- Iron enables the binding of oxygen to hemoglobin. - Without sufficient iron, hemoglobin can't transport oxygen efficiently, leading to conditions like anemia.
Iron's high affinity for oxygen allows hemoglobin to pick up oxygen in the lungs and release it where it's needed in tissues. This makes iron absolutely essential for cellular respiration and energy metabolism.
Understanding this helps explain why maintaining adequate iron levels is critical for health, particularly for forming healthy red blood cells and avoiding fatigue or paleness that can result from iron deficiency. Keeping an eye on the amount of iron is important, especially for athletes or those with specific dietary needs.