Inorganic Ions Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the difference between a caption and an anion?

A

A cation is an ion (charged atom) that has a POSITIVE charge
An anion is an ion that has a NEGATIVE charge

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2
Q

What is an inorganic ion and why are they important?

A
  • An ion which doesn’t contain carbon

- really important in biological processes

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3
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the cation ‘Calcium’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

Ca 2+

  • transmission of nerve impulses
  • release of insulin from pancreas
  • important for bone formation
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4
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the cation ‘Sodium’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

Na +

  • generating nerve impulses for muscle contraction
  • regulates fluid balance in the body
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5
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the cation ‘Potassium’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

K +

  • generating nerve impulses for muscle contraction
  • regulating fluid balance in the body
  • activates essential enzymes needed for photosynthesis
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6
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the cation ‘Hydrogen’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

H +

  • affects pH of substances (more H + = more acidic)
  • photosynthesis reactions in thylakoid membrane in chloroplast
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7
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the cation ‘Ammonium’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

NH 4+

-absorbed from soil by plants giving an important source of nitrogen (used to make amino/ nucleic acids)

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8
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the anion ‘Nitrate’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

NO 3-

-absorbed from soil by plants giving an important source of nitrogen (used to make amino/ nucleic acids)

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9
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the anion ‘Hydrogencarbonate’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

HCO 3-

-acts as a buffer which helps maintain pH of blood

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10
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the anion ‘Chloride’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

Cl -

  • involved in ‘chloride shift’ which helps maintain pH of blood during gas exchange
  • acts as a cofactor for amylase
  • some nerve impulses
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11
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the anion ‘Phosphate’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

PO 3-
4

  • photosynthesis and respiration reactions
  • needed for synthesis of many bio molecules e.g nucleotides, phospholipids, calcium phosphate
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12
Q

What is the chemical symbol of the anion ‘Hydroxide’ and what biological processes can it be involved in?

A

OH-

-affects pH of substances (more OH = more alkali)

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