Inorganic ions

Question 1

Magnesium (Mg2+)

Structure: ?

Plants:
?
?
?

Animals:
?

Answer 1

Structure: Chlorophyll

Plants:

• Component of Chlorophyll
• Deficiency causes chlorosis (yellowing of leaves)
• Plant growth stunted by lack of glucose (Photosynthesis)

Animals:
-Teeth and Bones

Question 2

Iron (Fe2+)

Structure: ?

Plants:
?
?

Animals:
?
?

Answer 2

Structure: Haemoglobin

Plants:

• Needed as a *cofactor in chlorophyll synthesis
• Deficiency causes chlorosis (yellowing of leaves)

Animals:

• Component of haemoglobin, responsible for oxygen transport in blood
• Deficiency leads to anaemia (pale appearance)

Question 3

Phosphate ions (PO4 ^3-)

Structure: ? ?

Plants & Animals:
?
?

Answer 3

Structure: Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), Nucleotide (DNA & RNA)

Plants & Animals:

• Component of DNA, RNA and ATP
• Component of phospholipids found in plasma membranes

Question 4

Calcium (Ca2+)

Answer 4

Structure: Middle Lamellae

Plants:

• Component of the middle lamella of walls which join together cells
• Deficiency leads to stunted growth due to poor cell wall development

Animals:

• Component of bones and teeth
• Deficiency could lead to rickets