2006-12-20 02:59:23 · 5 answers · asked by nihad t 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
It is not so much that Carboxyhemoglobin (the Carbon monoxide-Hemoglobin complex) is stable but that it is very more stable than Oxyhemoglobin (the Oxygen-Hemoglobin complex).
Due to the size difference and the electron field around the Carbon monoxide, it has an affinity of 200 to 250 times more than the Oxygen molecule.
Carbon is not as electronegative as Oxygen which tends to hold the electrons near it closer to the nucleus. Look at the structures listed in the last site below:
2006-12-20 03:24:15 · answer #1 · answered by Richard 7 · 59⤊ 2⤋
In this you should know that carbon monoxide is a more powerful ligand than the other species which combine with haemoglobin.
This is due to the better ability of carbon monoxide to give one of its lone pair of electrons to the haemoglobin molecule (to the central iron (II) )
2006-12-20 11:17:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Because Oxygen is a highly unstable element on it's own but is more stable when it is bound to another element which makes CO more stable than oxygen on it's own. In addition, the binding site of Oxygen in Hemoglobin has more affinity to CO than Oxygen.
2006-12-20 11:06:19 · answer #3 · answered by Lovetoloveyou 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Like oxygen, carbon monoxide binds to the iron atoms of the hemoglobin molecules that are inside the red blood cells but the binding of carbon monoxide to the iron is much stronger ( about 210 times stronger) than that of oxygen. The binding of carbon monoxide to iron is responsible for asphyxiation from carbon monoxide poisoning. Once carbon monoxide binds to the iron it pretty much knocks that molecule out of operation.
2006-12-20 11:17:03 · answer #4 · answered by pkababa 4 · 1⤊ 5⤋
CO has greater affinity to haemoglobin than oxygen. Therefore, it forms a relatively stable compound.
2006-12-20 11:16:04 · answer #5 · answered by Nirajan R 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋