What is the function of iron on a molecular level? Is it an electron acceptor or...

What is the function of iron on a molecular level? Is it an electron acceptor or donor? Does it assist in forming covalent bonds? Is it present in certain enzymes like a vitamin?

Expert Solution

The function of iron on a molecular level is its role in the body by acting as a central atom of the heme group, which is a metal complex binding molecular oxygen in lungs and carrying it to all the cells and muscles in the body which needs the oxygen for performing their activities. It also plays a role in transporting carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
Iron (III) is an "electron acceptor" as it acts as an oxidizing agent in chemical reactions. During some oxidation processes, iron acts as an electron acceptor.
Iron cannot assist in forming covalent bonds because, as iron is a metal, metals cannot form covalent bonds due to their low ionization energies. But, metals like iron can form a special type of bonding called 'metallic bonding', which is different from ionic and covalent bonding and iron can form 6 metallic bonds.
Iron is not present in all types of enzymes. Vitamin is a coenzyme and iron is a cofactor. Vitamins are found in foods and other natural sources but, iron is found in foods like red meat and iron becomes a part of haemoglobin in our body. So, some vitamins contains little or no amount of iron in them.

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Sydney Mullin answered 1 year ago

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