The chemistry of ferrous bis-glycinate chelate

In order to produce a ferrous chelate four criteria must be met: 1) the ligand must contain two functional groups which are capable of entering into covalent and coordinate covalent bonds; 2) a ring structure with the ferrous ion being the closing member of the ring must be created; 3) the chelate must be sterically possible; and 4) the chelation reaction must be energetically possible. In addition to the above, a totally nutritionally functional ferrous chelate must meet three further criteria: 1) it must have low molecular weight; 2) its stability constant must be nutritionally functional; and 3) the ligand must be metabolizable by the body. When ferrous iron is reacted with glycine and forms a bis-glycinate chelate, it meets all of the requirements of being both a chelate and being a totally nutritionally functional chelate.