Hemoglobin carries oxygen to the blood and is containing compound.

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Iron
Explanation: • Hemoglobin is a complex protein found in red blood cells (RBCs) that is responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. • Each hemoglobin molecule contains four heme groups, and at the center of each heme group is an Iron (Fe) atom. • It is this iron atom that reversibly binds with oxygen molecules, allowing the blood to carry oxygen throughout the circulatory system. • The interaction between oxygen and the iron-containing heme gives arterial blood its characteristic bright red color. • A deficiency of iron in the diet can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin levels, a condition known as Anemia.
Information Booster: • According to NCERT Science (Class 10), the high affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen makes it an exceptionally efficient respiratory pigment. • Hemoglobin also plays a role in transporting a small portion of carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation.
Additional Knowledge:
Zinc (Option a) • Zinc is a vital trace element found in various enzymes, such as carbonic anhydrase, but it is not the central metal in hemoglobin.
Copper (Option b) • While not present in human hemoglobin, copper is the central metal in hemocyanin, a respiratory pigment found in the blood of some invertebrates like mollusks and crustaceans, which turns blue when oxygenated.
Magnesium (Option d) • Magnesium is the central metal atom in the chlorophyll molecule, which is essential for photosynthesis in plants. Its structure is chemically similar to the heme group in hemoglobin.