The molecular structural characteristics of the complexes formed by the substitution of the central atom of heme (iron, Fe) by mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), or arsenic (As) were studied using density functional theory (DFT). The simulated infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectra, Wiberg bond levels, frontier molecular orbital energy levels, and the binding capacity of the heme ligand to the central atom were assessed for all complexes. The results showed that when Fe was replaced by Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, or As, the resulting ...