March 9, 1943
Professor John H. Yoe
Cobb Chemical Laboratory
University of Virginia
University, Va.
Dear Professor Yoe:
Our belief that mixtures of air and carbon monoxide lose carbon monoxide on long
standing over water is based on our experience that a mixture made up to, say, 100
parts per million, after standing over water in a rubber-stoppered glass bottle for
times of the order of a week or so, produces negligible carbon monoxylation of oxyhemoglobin
solutions, whereas a fresh mixture of carbon monoxide of the same concentration reacts
as expected. We have observed this occurrence a number of times with mixtures ranging
in 00 content from 100 to 500 p.p.m. but have not made any detailed study of the rate
at which the carbon monoxide concentration decreases. Our gas mixtures are made up
to the desired concentration since we could make up the mixtures with enough precision
for our purpose.
We agree that more carbon-monoxide disappears than can be accounted for by solution
in water, and are of the opinion that the carbon monoxide reacts with water to produce
003 and hydrogen. The free energy change favors this reaction at room temperature. Whether
the reaction is catalyzed by the glass-water interface we do not know, but that is
a possibility. I think it would be desireable [sic] to have rate measurements made,
and to try to correlate them with the glass-air and the glass-water surface available
and perhaps with the iron content of the glass. Our procedures are not well adapted
to analysis of carbon monoxide gas mixtures since the rate of reaction with oxyhemoglobin
is so low. If you find it possible to put a man on the problem I shall be very much
interested in the results you obtain.
I regret that the information we have to offer is not more definite. Of there
is anything further you would like to know about our experience with this matter please
do not hesitate to write.
Sincerely yours,
J. Norton Wilson
JNW:bb
