Question

Equal number of protein mixtures containing haemoglobin 15.5 Kg/mol, ribonuclease 13.7 Kg/mol, myoglobin 17.2 Kg/mol. Calculate the mass average relative molecular weight (approximate) of the protein solution.

Answer 1

We all know that haemoglobin may be a protein found in red blood cells. Iron is an essential element for blood production. In our body most of the iron is found in haemoglobin and in muscle cells called myoglobin.

Complete step by step answer:
We have to remember that the haemoglobin carries oxygen efficiently from the lungs to the tissues within the body. It also aids in transporting hydrogen ions and carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Iron is an important element for blood production. A reversible unstable complex is made with oxygen. Within the oxygenated state, it’s referred to as oxyhemoglobin and has bright red colour.
Now from the Given,
Mass of haemoglobin = ${M_1}$= 15.5Kg/mol
Mass of ribonuclease = ${M_2}$= 13.7Kg/mol
Mass of myoglobin = ${M_3}$= 17.2Kg/mol
Also, it’s given that we’ve an equal number of all these proteins
${n_1} = {n_2} = {n_3} = n$
Now, the mass of average relative molecular weight is given by formula:
${M_W} = \dfrac{{\sum\limits_{}^{} {{n_i}M_i^2} }}{{\sum\limits_{}^{} {{n_i}{M_i}} }}$
Thus by substituting all the values,
${M_W} = \dfrac{{{n_1}M_1^2 + {n_2}M_2^2 + {n_3}M_3^2}}{{{n_1}{M_1} + {n_2}{M_2} + {n_3}{M_3}}}$
Now we can substitute the known values we get,
$\Rightarrow {M_W} = \dfrac{{n{{(15.5)}^2} + n{{(13.7)}^2} + n{{(17.2)}^2}}}{{n \times 15.5 + n \times 13.7 + n \times 17.2}}$
On simplification we get,
$\Rightarrow {M_W} = 15.59Kg/mol$
Therefore, the solution to the present question is $15.59Kg/mol$.

Note:
We have to remember that the haemoglobin production takes place in the bone marrow by the method of haematopoiesis. Each erythrocyte has 270 million haemoglobin molecules. The normal range of haemoglobin in an adult is 600 million etc… haemoglobin is formed from four heme groups that are surrounded by a globin group forming a porphyrin group.
We must remember that the haemoglobin plays a crucial role in maintaining the shape of red blood cells. Abnormal haemoglobin may result in several shaped red blood cells.