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The structure of porphine is shown in the figure. To understand the absorption spectra of hemoglobin, one can use a free electron model for a particle on a circle. In the free electron model you may assume that the electrons from the p-orbitals of the carbon atoms populate energy levels derived from the particle-on-a-circle solution to the Schrödinger equation.

 

A. Assuming that the radius of the circle is 3.5 Ã… and that the porphyrin has 18 electrons, please draw an energy level diagram for this system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. Calculate the maximum of the absorption spectrum (in nm).

 

 

 

 

 

lmax = __________________nm.