3.1.7/8 Water/ Inorganic Ions

Question 1

Why is water called dipolar?

Answer 1

This is because hydrogen has a slight positive charge and oxygen has a slight negative charge

Question 2

What are the five properties of water?

Answer 2

• Water is a metabolite (in chem reacts)
• Due to it being dipolar it’s an important solvent in reactions
• Has a high heat capacity(takes a lot of energy to increase temp)/buffers temp
• Large latent heat of vaporisation, provides cooling effect with evaporation
• Strong cohesion between molecules

Question 3

Where can inorganic ions occur?

Answer 3

In solutions in the cytoplasm and body fluids of organisms, some in very high or very low concentrations.

Question 4

Name four types of Inorganic ions

Answer 4

• Hydrogen ions
• Iron ions
• Sodium ions
• Phosphate ions

Question 5

Function of Hydrogen ions?

Answer 5

Lower pH of solutions and impact enzyme function and haemoglobin function or its role in chemiosmosis

Question 6

Iron ions

Answer 6

It’s a component of haemoglobin in the transport of oxygen

Question 7

Sodium ions

Answer 7

Involved in the co-transport of glucose and amino acids in absorption or in role in generating action potentials.

Question 8

Phosphate ions

Answer 8

A component of DNA (forms phosphodiester bonds) and ATP (makes ADP more reactive)