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Chapter 23: Problem 74

Give brief statements about the relevance of the following complexes in living systems: (a) hemoglobin, (b) chlorophylls, (c) siderophores.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Hemoglobin is essential for oxygen transport and carbon dioxide removal in vertebrates; it maintains proper oxygen and carbon dioxide levels required for cellular metabolism. Chlorophylls facilitate photosynthesis in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria, converting sunlight into chemical energy, contributing to oxygen production and carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere. Siderophores, produced by microorganisms in iron-deficient conditions, enable iron acquisition for essential biological processes, microbial competition, and in some cases, contribute to the virulence of pathogenic bacteria.

Step by step solution

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(a) Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a metalloprotein involved in the transport of oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. It binds to oxygen in the lungs, where its concentration is high, and releases it in tissues, where it is low. Hemoglobin also helps transport carbon dioxide (a waste product) from the tissues back to the lungs for exhalation. This process is crucial for maintaining proper oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the body, which is essential for cellular metabolism and overall physiological functions.
02

(b) Chlorophylls

Chlorophylls are pigments found in plants, algae, and photosynthetic bacteria. They play a vital role in the process of photosynthesis, which allows these organisms to convert sunlight into chemical energy (in the form of glucose). Chlorophylls are responsible for the green color in plants and are essential for their growth and survival. By facilitating photosynthesis, chlorophylls not only provide energy for the organisms containing them but also contribute to the production of oxygen and the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which is crucial for maintaining a stable environment on Earth.
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(c) Siderophores

Siderophores are small organic molecules produced by microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, under conditions of iron deficiency. They have a high affinity for binding and solubilizing ferric iron (Fe3+), which is generally insoluble and inaccessible for uptake by microorganisms. By forming complexes with Fe3+, siderophores enable microorganisms to acquire iron for essential biological processes, such as electron transport, DNA synthesis, and maintaining redox balance. Siderophores can also play a role in microbial competition, as they may deprive other organisms of iron, and in some cases, they are involved in the virulence of pathogenic bacteria.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The complex \(\left[\mathrm{Mn}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{6}\right]^{2+}\) contains five unpaired electrons. Sketch the energy-level diagram for the \(d\) orbitals, and indicate the placement of electrons for this complex ion. Is the ion a high-spin or a low-spin complex?

Which of the following objects is chiral: (a) a left shoe, (b) a slice of bread, \((c)\) a wood screw, (d) a molecular model of \(\mathrm{Zn}(\mathrm{en}) \mathrm{Cl}_{2}\) (e) a typical golf club?

Consider the tetrahedral anions \(\mathrm{VO}_{4}^{3-}\) (orthovanadate ion), \(\mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}(\) chromate ion \(),\) and \(\mathrm{MnO}_{4}^{-}\) (permanganate ion). (a) These anions are isoelectronic. What does this statement mean? (b) Would you expect these anions to exhibit \(d-d\) transitions? Explain. (c) As mentioned in "A Closer Look" on charge-transfer color, the violet color of \(\mathrm{MnO}_{4}^{-}\) is due to a ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) transition. What is meant by this term? (d) The LMCT transition in \(\mathrm{MnO}_{4}^{-}\) occurs at a wavelength of \(565 \mathrm{nm}\). The \(\mathrm{CrO}_{4}^{2-}\) ion is yellow. Is the wavelength of the LMCT transition for chromate larger or smaller than that for \(\mathrm{MnO}_{4}^{-}\) ? Explain. (e) The \(\mathrm{VO}_{4}{ }^{3-}\) ion is colorless. Do you expect the light absorbed by the LMCT to fall in the UV or the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum? Explain your reasoning.

(a) What is the meaning of the term coordination number as it applies to metal complexes? (b) Give an example of a ligand that is neutral and one that is negatively charged. (c) Would you expect ligands that are positively charged to be common? Explain. (d) What type of chemical bonding is characteristic of coordination compounds? Illustrate with the compound \(\mathrm{Co}\left(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\right)_{6} \mathrm{Cl}_{3}\) (e) What are the most common coordination numbers for metal complexes?

If a transition-metal complex has an even number of valence \(\bar{d}\) electrons, does it necessarily mean that the complex is diamagnetic? Explain.
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