What makes blood cells red?

Chemistry Level pending

When red blood cells are oxygenated, they have a vibrant red color. Which element do the oxygen atoms bind to in hemoglobin to create that color?

Carbon Iron Oxygen Hydrogen

Jordan Calmes by Jordan Calmes , 33, USA

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2 solutions

Jordan Calmes
Apr 18, 2016

Relevant wiki: Hemoglobin

Oxygen binds to the iron in hemoglobin. Iron oxides tend to have vibrant reddish colors. Rust is another example.

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Chill Fusion
May 14, 2019

oxygen binds to iron in an oxidation reaction, here the color exhibited is a reddish color, when in large quantities in the blood plasma light refracted by the blood cells is red and thus absorbs other colors in the visible spectrum, this produces the red color of blood

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