iron
When a hemoglobin molecule is broken apart, the iron pigment is released. This is what is called the -"heme" part of the molecule.
The iron containing part of hemoglobin is the 'heme' molecule.
Iron Ion
The part of the blood that is responsible for carrying oxygen is hemoglobin. The hemoglobin binds to oxygen in the alveoli of the lungs. Then the hemoglobin releases the oxygen at the cells. The part of the hemoglobin molecule that is directly responsible for carrying the oxygen is the iron ion in the center of the molecule's structure. The iron ion changes from a Fe +2 ion to a Fe +3 when carrying the oxygen. Then the hemoglobin reaches the cell, the iron ion decomposes back to the more stable Fe +2 state, replacing the oxygen with a water molecule.
The heme group within the hemoglobin molecule is what actually binds to the oxygen molecule. This process involves the iron atom within the heme group forming a reversible coordination bond with the oxygen molecule.
A portion of the heme group
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. It contains iron as one of its chief components.
The ion that is part of hemoglobin is iron (Fe). Specifically, it is found in the heme group, which is a critical component of hemoglobin, allowing it to bind and transport oxygen in the blood. Each hemoglobin molecule contains four heme groups, each with one iron ion that can bind to one oxygen molecule.
Carbon dioxide primarily binds to the globin part of the hemoglobin molecule, specifically to specific amino acid residues within the globin chains. This binding forms carbaminohemoglobin and plays a role in the transport of carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs for elimination.
Iron is the essential mineral that forms a crucial part of the hemoglobin molecule. It enables hemoglobin to bind to oxygen in the lungs and transport it throughout the body. A deficiency in iron can lead to anemia, characterized by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.
The iron molecule (that's the hemo- in hemoglobin) gains and/or loses an oxygen molecule. The protein part (that's the globin) changes shape a bit. Both changes are very reversible and requires little energy.
Iron is part of the hemoglobin molecule, which helps carry oxygen around the body through the bloodstream