Question

Why our blood does not rust even if it contains iron and oxygen?

Answer 1

Blood:

1. Blood is a special connective tissue consisting of a fluid matrix, plasma, and formed elements.
2. It transports vital elements like oxygen and nutrients to cells as well as metabolic waste products away from those same cells.
3. The majority of the iron in hemoglobin is present as the functional ferrous ion Fe²⁺, which may bind oxygen. Fe³⁺ (ferric ion) is non-functional and unable to bind oxygen; Fe²⁺ can be oxidized to Fe³⁺.
4. When water molecules and ferric oxide interact to form oxidized iron and hydrated water molecules, rust is created.
5. Because the iron in the body is of the Fe oxidized variety, it does not react with water molecules.
6. The iron that is already in our bodies can only absorb ferrous iron.
7. Ferric iron cannot be absorbed by the body.
8. As a result, despite having both iron and oxygen, our bodies do not rust.