2.2.11 inorganic ions

Question 1

name the key inorganic ions involved in biological processes - cations

Answer 1

• calcium
• sodium
• potassium
• hydrogen
• ammonium

Question 2

name the key inorganic ions involved in biological processes - anions

Answer 2

• nitrate
• hydrogencarbonate
• chloride
• phosphate
• hydroxide

Question 3

molecular formula of calcium

Answer 3

Ca2+

Question 4

molecular formula of sodium

Answer 4

Na+

Question 5

molecular formula of potassium

Answer 5

K+

Question 6

molecular formula of hydrogen

Answer 6

H+

Question 7

molecular formula of ammonium

Answer 7

NH4+

Question 8

molecular formula of nitrate

Answer 8

NO3-

Question 9

molecular formula of hydrogencarbonate

Answer 9

HCO3-

Question 10

molecular formula of chloride

Answer 10

Cl-

Question 11

molecular formula of phosphate

Answer 11

PO4 3-

Question 12

molecular formula of hydroxide

Answer 12

OH-

Question 13

how is calcium involved in key biological processes

Answer 13

• increase rigidity of bone, teeth & cartilage
• component of exoskeleton of crustaceans
• activator for several enzymes eg. lipase
• stimulates muscle contraction & regulates transmission of nerve impulses
• regulates permeability of cell membranes
• important for cell wall development in plants & formation of middle lamella

Question 14

where’s the middle lamella found

Answer 14

between cell walls

Question 15

how is sodium involved in key biological processes

Answer 15

• involved in regulation of osmotic pressure, control of water levels in body fluid & maintenance of pH
• affects absorption of carbohydrate in intestine & water in kidney
• contributes to nervous transmission & muscle contraction
• constituent of vacuole in plants

Question 16

how is potassium involved in key biological processes

Answer 16

• involved in control of water levels in body fluid & maintenance of pH
• assists active transport of materials across cell membrane
• involved in synthesis of glycogen/protein & breakdown of glucose
• generates healthy leaves/flowers in flowering plants
• contributes to nervous transmission & muscle contraction
• component of vacuoles in plants

Question 17

how is hydrogen involved in key biological processes

Answer 17

• involved in photosynthesis & respiration
• involved in transport of oxygen/carbon dioxide in blood
• involved in regulation of blood pH

Question 18

how is ammonium involved in key biological processes

Answer 18

• component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins & chlorophyll
• some hormones are made of proteins eg. insulin
• essential component of amino acids
• involved in maintenance of pH in (human) body
• component of nitrogen cycle

Question 19

how is nitrate involved in key biological processes

Answer 19

• component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins & chlorophyll
• essential component of nucleic acids
• some hormones made of proteins containing nitrogen eg. insulin
• component of nitrogen cycle

Question 20

how is hydrogencarbonate involved in key biological processes

Answer 20

• involved in regulation of blood pH
• involved in transport of carbon dioxide in/out of blood

Question 21

how is chloride involved in key biological processes

Answer 21

• helps in production of urine in kidney (maintain water balance)
• involved in transport of carbon dioxide in/out of blood
• regylates affinity of haemoglobin to oxygen through allosteric effects on haemoglobin molecule
• involved in regulation of blood pH
• used to produce hydrochloric acid in stomach

Question 22

how is phosphate involved in key biological processes

Answer 22

• increases rigidity of bone, teeth & cartilage
• component of exoskeleton of crustaceans
• component of phospholipids, ATP, nucleic acids & several important enymes
• involved in regulation of blood pH
• helps root growth in plants

Question 23

how is hydroxide involved in key biological processes

Answer 23

• involved in regulation of blood pH