2.2 Inorganic ions

Question 1

What are inorganic ions?

Answer 1

Charged atoms or molecules that are either cations or anions
-components of many biological molecules e.g in haemoglobin, each haem group contains an Fe2+ ion

Question 2

Cations

Answer 2

Cations are positively charged ions

Question 3

Anions

Answer 3

Anions are negatively charged ions

Question 4

What are functions of inorganic ions?

Answer 4

•involved in key biological processes such as respiration

Question 5

Calcium ions- what are the 6 key roles of them?

Answer 5

•cation (Ca2+)
•Increases rigidity of bone, teeth and cartilage & component of the exoskeleton of crustaceans
•Important in clotting blood and muscle contraction
•Stimulates muscle contraction snd regulates transmission of nerve impulses
•regulates permeability of cell membranes
•Important for cell development in plants
•activator for several enzymes such sd lipase, ATpase and cholinesterase

Question 6

Sodium ions- 4 key roles of them?

Answer 6

•cation (Na+)
•involved in regulation of osmotic pressure, control of water levels in body fluid and maintenance of pH
•Affects absorption of carbohydrate in the intestine and water in the kidney
•Contributes to nervous transmission and muscle contraction
•Component of vacuoles in plants, helping to maintain turgidity

Question 7

Potassium- 6 key roles of them

Answer 7

•cation (K+)
• involved in control of water levels in body fluid and maintenance of pH
• assists active transport materials across the cell membrane
• Involved in synthesis of glycogen and protein and breakdown of glucose
• generates healthy, leaves, and flowers, flowering plants
• contributes to nervous transmission and muscle contraction
• component of vacuoles in plants, helping to maintain Turgidity

Question 8

Hydrogen ions- 3 key roles of them

Answer 8

•Cation (H+)
• involved in photosynthesis and respiration
• Involve in transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
• involved in regulation of blood, pH

Question 9

Ammonium ions-5 key roles of them

Answer 9

•cation (NH4+)
• A component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and Chlorophyll
• Some hormones are made of proteins e.g. insulin
• in essential component of nucleic acids
• involved in maintenance of pH of the human body
• a component of the nitrogen cycle

Question 10

Nitrate ions -4 key roles of them

Answer 10

•anion (NO3-)
• the component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins, and chlorophyll
• and essential component of nucleic acids
• some Hormones are made of proteins which contain nitrogen e.g. insulin
• a component of the nitrogen cycle

Question 11

Hydrogencarbonate ions- 2 key roles of yhem

Answer 11

• anion (HCO3-)
•involved in regulation of blood, pH
• involved in transport of carbon dioxide into and out of the blood

Question 12

Chloride ions-5 key roles of them

Answer 12

•anion (Cl-)
• helps in production of urine in the kidney and maintaining water balance
• involved in transport of carbon dioxide into and out of the blood
• Regulates affinity of haemoglobin to oxygen through allosteric effects on the haemoglobin molecule
• involved in regulation of blood, pH
• used to produce hydrochloric acid in the

Question 13

Phosphate ions-4 key roles of them

Answer 13

•anion (PO*4-3)
• increases rigidity of bone, teeth and cartilage and is a component of the exoskeleton of crustaceans
• component of phospholipids, ATP nucleic acid in several important enzymes
• involved in regulation of blood, pH
• helps root growth in plants

Question 14

Hydroxide ions- key role of them

Answer 14

•anion (OH-)
• involved in regulation of blood, pH