Inorganic Ions

Question 1

What is the difference between a caption and an anion?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is an inorganic ion and why are they important?

Answer 2

• An ion which doesn’t contain carbon

- really important in biological processes

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Ca 2+

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

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Na +

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

Question 5

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

Answer 5

K +

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

Question 6

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

Answer 6

H +

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

Question 7

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

Answer 7

NH 4+

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

Question 8

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

Answer 8

NO 3-

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

Question 9

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

Answer 9

HCO 3-

-acts as a buffer which helps maintain pH of blood

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Cl -

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

Question 11

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

Answer 11

PO 3-
4

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

Question 12

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

Answer 12

OH-

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