2.1.2: Inorganic Ions Flashcards
What are inorganic ions?
Inorganic ions occur in solution in the cytoplasm of organisms, some in high concentrations and others in very low concentrations.
What role do hydrogen (H) and hydroxide (OH) ions play?
They impact pH, relevant to enzyme activity, protein denaturation, increased heart rate, and the Bohr effect on haemoglobin.
What is the effect of hydrogen carbonate (HCO₃) in human blood?
It lowers the pH and provides a source of carbon dioxide to plants when dissolved in a solution.
What is the function of chloride ions (Cl)?
They have an inhibitory effect at a synapse.
What roles do sodium (Na) and potassium (K) ions play?
They are involved in the co-transport of glucose and amino acids and are relevant in the absorption of glucose and resting/action potential in the nervous system.
What are phosphate ions (PO₄³⁻) important for?
They are components of DNA and ATP, relevant to DNA, RNA, and ATP structure.
What is the significance of ammonium ions (NH₄⁺)?
They result from the decay of amino acids in decomposition and deamination.
What role do nitrate ions (NO₃⁻) play in plants?
They are absorbed through plant root hair cells and are essential for the creation of proteins and nucleic acids.
What are calcium ions (Ca²⁺) involved in?
They are involved in synaptic transmission and muscle contractions.
What are reducing sugars?
Sugars that can reduce Cu²⁺ ions in Benedict’s reagent to Cu⁺ ions, forming a brick-red precipitate.
What differentiates non-reducing sugars from reducing sugars?
Non-reducing sugars, such as sucrose, do not reduce Cu²⁺ ions in Benedict’s reagent.
What is the purpose of the reducing sugar test?
To test for the presence of reducing sugars using Benedict’s reagent.
What is the appearance of Benedict’s reagent?
It is a blue liquid due to the presence of copper sulfate.
Fill in the blank: Sucrose is a _______ sugar.
non-reducing
True or False: All monosaccharides are reducing sugars.
True
