What pigment found in red blood cells is responsible for binding oxygen?

Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that is primarily responsible for the transport of oxygen throughout the body. It binds to oxygen molecules in the lungs and carries them to various tissues and organs, facilitating essential cellular respiration. The structure of hemoglobin allows it to effectively pick up oxygen when oxygen levels are high, and release it when the tissues require it.

In contrast, chlorophyll is a pigment found in plants that plays a role in photosynthesis, not in oxygen transport in humans. Myoglobin, while also a heme-containing protein, is located in muscle tissue and primarily serves to store oxygen rather than transport it in the bloodstream. Albumin is a type of protein found in blood plasma but it does not participate in oxygen transportation; its main role is to maintain osmotic pressure and transport various substances in the blood. Thus, the distinct function and role of hemoglobin in oxygen binding is what makes it the correct answer to the question.