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Chemistry in Medicine

Haemoglobin, carbon monoxide and edta

  • 3 things to know
  • Unit A2 2

Overview

Oxidation state of the iron in functioning haemoglobin and ligand is edta.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What is haemoglobin?

Key term

How does haemoglobin carry oxygen?

Key term

Why must the binding of oxygen to haemoglobin be reversible?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is haemoglobin?

    Model answer

    The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, containing four haem groups each with an iron(II) ion at its centre.

  2. 2

    What is the oxidation state of the iron in functioning haemoglobin?

    Model answer

    Plus two.

  3. 3

    How does haemoglobin carry oxygen?

    Model answer

    An oxygen molecule bonds reversibly to the iron(II) ion as a ligand, occupying one coordination position.

  4. 4

    Why must the binding be reversible?

    Model answer

    The oxygen has to be released in the tissues, so a permanent bond would make the pigment useless after one circuit.

  5. 5

    Why is carbon monoxide poisonous?

    Model answer

    It binds to the same iron(II) site far more strongly than oxygen, so the haemoglobin can no longer carry oxygen.

  6. 6

    Is carbon monoxide binding reversible?

    Model answer

    It is, but the bond is so much stronger that the site is effectively blocked at the concentrations that matter.

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