Even though they are not among the elements that make up a majority of living sp

Question

Even though they are not among the elements that make up a majority of living species (c, o, N, s P, H), metals play an important role in biochemistry and medicine.The human body has low levels of the following metals in various charged states: Iron, sodium, magnesium, copper, cobalt, zinc, and calcium. Majority of the iron found in the human body is associated with hemoglobin, which is a porphyrin molecule responsible for transferring oxygen to the blood. We typically gain Iron from the foods that we eat, such as eggs, yeast, and breakfast cereals (where iron is added in the form of Fe (CO)s). Vitamins also often have iron (II) ions present. Copper is commonly found in our muscles. Copper deficiencies can lead to conditions such as anemia, degeneration of the nervous system, and impaired immunity. An over accumulation of copper (Wilson's Disease) can lead to neurological damage Answer the following questions which use the ideas ofionic size and electronic structure to think about ions in the body 1. Give the electron configurations for iron, iron(II and iron (III. 2. In hemoglobin, Iron can be in either the iron(II) or iron(IID oxidation state. Are either of these paramagnetic? CHINT: paramagnetic means that the atom produces light magnetic field and results from spin un aired electrons in the electron configuration 3. Give the electron configurations for copper CD and copper (ID ions. Is copper paramagnetic 4. in any of these forms? (radius 124 Why are copper atoms (radius 8 pm) slightly larger than iron atoms 5. pm)? porphyrin group, a flat grouping of carbon In hemoglobin, the iron is enclosed by the hydrogen and nitrogen atoms, which is in turn encased in a protein. When iron is in the form of Fe ion, it just fits into the space within the four N atoms, and the arrangement is flat. Speculate on what occurs to the structure when iron is reduced to the Fe ion CH hemoglobin oFo protoporphyrin

Explanation / Answer

1) Fe2+ = [Ar] 3d6 , Fe3+ = [Ar]3d5

2) Fe2+ is paramagnetic only when it is high spin

Fe3+ is paramagnetic in both low spin and high spin cases

3) Cu+ = [Ar]3d10, Cu2+ =[Ar]3d9

Cu2+ is paramagnetic and Cu+ is diamagnetic.

4) In Cu, there will be a greater interelectronic repulsion between d electrons and hence slightly larger than iron atoms

5) When Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+ , the iron will not be in the plane any more. It will be slightly projected out of the plane. This is because of the change in ionic radius when going from +3 to+2 ( Fe2+ have a larger ionic radii).

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