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The distribution and excretion of iron injected in the form of water soluble low molecular weight chelates is dependent on the physical chemical nature of the iron chelate and its molecular architecture. The strong anionic hydrophilic iron chelates provide least iron scission and highest urinary excretion. A second group of less polar iron chelates of high stability follows a distribution pattern which provides gastrointestinal as well as urinary iron excretion. Iron from a third class of iron chelates of binding strength lower than that of transferrin, the specific iron binding protein of the plasma, is retained and widely distributed after parenteral injection. For all compounds, the anemic animal utilizes iron more efficiently than the normal. The mode of this utilization, while variable, is considered to be a consequence of tissue iron binding coupled with an enhanced diffusibility of the iron chelates in anemia. The retained chelated iron becomes available for hemoglobin regeneration in iron deficiency anemia.