3.1 Biological elements

Question 1

What are cells composed of?

Answer 1

Molecules

Question 2

What are the 4 key elements that living things are made of?

Answer 2

Carbon (C)
Nitrogen (N)
Oxygen (O)
Hydrogen (H)

Question 3

What’s the symbol for calcium ions? What’s their function?

Answer 3

{ Ca 2+}
Nerve impulse transmission
Muscle contraction

Question 4

What’s the symbol for sodium ions? What’s their function?

Answer 4

{Na+}
Nerve impulse transmission
Kidney function

Question 5

What’s the symbol for potassium ions? What’s their function?

Answer 5

{K+}
Nerve impulse transmission
Stomatal opening

Question 6

What’s the symbol for hydrogen ions? What’s their function?

Answer 6

{H+}
Catalysing reactions
pH determination

Question 7

What’s the symbol for ammonium ions? What’s their function?

Answer 7

{NH4 +}

Production of nitrate ions by bacteria

Question 8

What are the common cations found in living cells?

Answer 8

Calcium ions { Ca 2+} 
Sodium ions { Na + }
Potassium ions { K+ }
Hydrogen ions { H + }
Ammonium ions { NH4 + }

Question 9

What are the common anions found in the living cells?

Answer 9

Nitrate ions 
Hydrogen carbonate ions
Chloride Ions
Phosphate ions
Hydroxide Ions

Question 10

What is the function of nitrate ions? What is their symbol?

Answer 10

{ NO3 - }

Nitrogen supply to plants for amino acids + protein formation

Question 11

What is the function of hydrogen carbonate ions? What is their symbol?

Answer 11

{ HCO3 - }

Maintenance of blood pH

Question 12

What is the function of chloride ions? What is their symbol?

Answer 12

{ Cl- }

Balance positive charge of sodium and potassium ions in cells

Question 13

What is the function of phosphate ions? What is their symbol?

Answer 13

{ PO4 ^3-}
Cell membrane formation
Nucleic acid and ATP formation
Bone formation

Question 14

What is the function of hydroxide ions? What is their symbol?

Answer 14

{ OH- }
Catalyse reactions
pH determination

Question 15

What elements do carbohydrates consist of?

Answer 15

C, H, O2

Question 16

What elements do lipids consist of?

Answer 16

C, H, O2

Question 17

What elements do proteins consist of?

Answer 17

C, H, O2, N, S

Question 18

What elements do nucleic acids consist of?

Answer 18

C, H, O2, N, P

Question 19

What are polymers?

Answer 19

Long chains of molecules made by joining many monomers in a repeating pattern

Question 20

Define a monomer

Answer 20

Individual molecules that make up a polymer

Question 21

What are monomers in carbohydrates called?

Answer 21

Sugars (saccharides)

Question 22

What are monomers in proteins called?

Answer 22

Amino acids