The extreme insolubility of ferric iron leaves little free iron available for transport into bacterial cells.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ferric iron is highly insoluble and difficult for bacteria to transport into their cells. As a result, most bacteria rely on siderophores, specialized molecules that bind to the ferric iron and facilitate its transport across the cell membrane. Only a small amount of free iron is available for bacteria to use in biological processes.

The Extreme Insolubility of Ferric Iron Leaves Little Free Iron