Question

Synthesis of a Cobalt Complex that Mimics Oxygen Binding in Hemoglobin

Knowing the decrease in volume at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure, the number of moles of O2 absorbed per mole of Co(salen) can be calculated.

From your oxygen uptake experiments, how many equivalents of oxygen are bound to the cobalt? Draw the structure of your proposed molecule (you will need to know the amount of Co(salen) you added to the sidearm flask and the change of volume you observed – show your work).

0.05 g of Co(salen) was added to the sidearm flask and a change of volume of 2 mL was observed.

Answer 1

Basically the "Red" form of salen is capable of complexing with Oxygen that actually mimcs the Oxyhaemoglobin structure.

The d⁷ state of Co Can exist as a High/Low spin Complex.

thus, applying the law of chemical equivalence to the above change in oxidation state of Co before and after combining with O₂ molecule we have,

N_Co * V_Co = N_O2 * V_O2

Equivalents of O₂ Molecules are bound to 0.05g of Cobalt.