Inorganic Ions

Question 1

What is an ion?

Answer 1

An atom (or group of atoms) with an electric charge

Question 2

What is a cation?

Answer 2

An ion with a positive charge

Question 3

Was is an anion?

Answer 3

An ion with a negative charge

Question 4

What is an inorganic ion?

Answer 4

An ion that doesn’t contain carbon

Question 5

Give four examples of inorganic ions

Answer 5

1. Iron ions
2. Hydrogen ions
3. Sodium ions
4. Phosphate ions

Question 6

Why are iron ions important?

Answer 6

Haemoglobin is a large protein that carries oxygen around the body. It’s made up of four different polypeptide chains each with an iron ion (Fe2+) in the centre. The Fe2+ binds to the oxygen in Hb, here its temporarily becomes an Fe3+ ion until the oxygen is released

Question 7

Why are H+ ions important?

Answer 7

pH is calculated based on the amount of H+ ions in the environment. The more H+ ion the more acidic the environment

Question 8

Why are sodium ions important?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Why are phosphate ions important?

Answer 9

When a phosphate ion (PO4 3+) is attached to another molecule it’s known as a phosphate group. DNA, RNA and ATP all contain phosphate groups. It’s the bond between the phosphate groups that store the energy in ATP. The phosphate groups in DNA and RNA allow nucleotides to join to form polynucleotides