Class: BE-210
Group: R3
Members: Noel Ang, Lisa Romito, Karim Sadak, Ofer Sagiv
Date: 4/30/98
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Abstract:
The objective of this experiment is to determine the actual weight percent of iron (Fe) in a bovine hemoglobin molecule. Through the use of Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), the weight percent of Fe was calculated to be about 0.331 + 0.021%. This value can be compared to the literature value of Fe weight percent of 0.333%, which is based on a 67,000 grams/mole molecular weight of hemoglobin. This presents an approximate error of 0.6%. Furthermore, the actual number of Fe atoms within a molecule of hemoglobin protein was obtained; this value was 3.97 + 0.27 Fe atoms per hemoglobin molecule, a 0.75% error when compared to the actual presence of 4 Fe atoms per hemoglobin molecule. To determine the Fe content in hemoglobin, the hemoglobin molecule was kept intact. To prove that the rest of the protein did not interfere with the absorption readings measured by the AAS, the method of additions was utilized in which iron was added to hemoglobin in increasing amounts. This method showed that the rest of the hemoglobin protein surrounding the iron atom did not interfere with the absorbance readings, which therefore validates the above results.