Inorganic Ions

Question 1

Sodium

Answer 1

Na+
- Generating and transmission of nerve impulses and muscle contraction,
- regulating body fluids balance in the body.
(eg reabsorption of water and glucose in kidney)

Question 2

Ammonium

Answer 2

NH4+
- Absorbed from the soil by plants
- contains nitrogen which is used to make proteins/nucleic acids
- Is oxidised in the soil as part of the nitrogen cycle.

Question 3

Hydrogen

Answer 3

H+
- Affects the pH of a substance (if there’s more H+ than OH- it is an acid),
- Used for photosynthesis reaction in thylakoids membrane inside chloroplast
- used for respiration reaction in the inner membrane of the mitochondria.
- Product of carbonate dissociation.

Question 4

Calcium

Answer 4

Ca2+
- Transmission of nerve impulses
- Release of insulin from pancreas
- cofactor for amylase, e.g. blood clotting
- Important for bone formation And strength
- Activates the cytoskeleton.

Question 5

Potassium

Answer 5

K+
- Generates nerve impulses and Muscle contraction
- Regulates body fluid balance in the body
- Activates essential enzymes for photosynthesis in plant cells
- Regulates tomato opening when it. accumulating the guard cell, it lowers water potential, causing water to enter by osmosis, opening the stomata.

Question 6

Hydrogen carbonate

Answer 6

HCO3-
Acts as a buffer to maintain the pH of the blood

Question 7

Chloride

Answer 7

Cl-
- Chloride shift - maintains pH of the blood
- during gas exchange
- acts as a cofactor for the enzyme amylase
- involved in some nerve impulses

Question 8

Nitrate

Answer 8

NO3-
- Absorbed from the soil by plants (Is pumped into root hair cell to establish a water potential gradient)
- Is an important source of nitrogen which is used to make amino acids and nucleic acids

Question 9

Phosphate

Answer 9

PO4 3–
- Involved in Photosynthesis and respiration
- Component in cell membranes DNA RNA

Question 10

Hydroxide

Answer 10

OH-
Affects the PH of substances (more oh ions than H ions in the solution creates an alkali