BM: Inorganic Ions COPY

Question 1

What is an ion?

Answer 1

An atom (or group of atoms) that has an electric charge.

Question 2

Ion with a positive charge.

Answer 2

Cation.

Question 3

Ion with a negative charge.

Answer 3

Anion.

Question 4

Cation.

Answer 4

Ion with a positive charge.

Question 5

Anion.

Answer 5

Ion with a negative charge.

Question 6

Inorganic ion.

Answer 6

Ion which doesn’t contain carbon/

Question 7

Ion which doesn’t contain carbon/

Answer 7

Inorganic ion.

Question 8

Where can inorganic ions be found?

Answer 8

In solution, in the cytoplasms of the cells and in the body fluids of organisms.

Question 9

What determines the role of an ion?

What does the role of an ion determine?

Answer 9

The ion’s specific role depends on its properties, and an ion’s role determines whether it is found in high or low concentrations.

Question 10

Give examples of inorganic ions:

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Explain the importance of iron ions in haemoglobin:

Answer 11

• Haemoglobin is made of four different polypeptide chains, each with an iron ion in the centre.
• It’s the Fe2+ the binds the oxygen to haemoglobin.

Question 12

What is haemoglobin?

Answer 12

A large protein that carries oxygen around the body, in the red blood cells.

Question 13

When oxygen binds to haemoglobin, what happens to the iron ion?

Answer 13

Fe2+ temporarily changes to Fe3+, until the oxygen is released.

Question 14

Why are hydrogen ions important?

Answer 14

The amount present determines the pH.

This affects enzyme-controlled reactions.

Question 15

How is pH calculated?

Answer 15

Based on the concentration of hydrogen ions in the environment.

The more H+ present, the lower the pH and the more acidic the environment.

Question 16

Why are sodium ions important?

Answer 16

They help to transport glucose and amino acids across membranes.

• A molecule of glucose or amino acid can be transported into a cell alongside sodium ions - this is known as co-transport.

Question 17

Why are phosphate ions important?

Answer 17

They are an essential component of ATP and DNA

• When a phosphate ion is attached to another molecule, it becomes a phosphate group.
• DNA, RNA and ATP all contain phosphate groups.
  
  • In ATP the bonds between phosphate groups store energy.
  • In DNA and RNA phosphate groups allow nucleotides to join up to form the polynucleotides.