Inorganic Ions

Question 1

What are two other words for an inorganic ion?

Answer 1

Mineral or electrolyte

Question 2

What type of processes are inorganic ions responsible for?

Answer 2

Cellular processes

Question 3

Give three examples of cellular processes that inorganic ions are important for.

Answer 3

• Muscle contraction
• Nervous coordination
• Maintaining osmotic pressure in cells and blood

Question 4

What are the two groups of inorganic ions?

Answer 4

Macronutrients and micronutrients

Question 5

What concentrations are macronutrients needed in and what concentrations are micronutrients need in?

Answer 5

Macro-small

Micro-minute

Question 6

Give examples of four macronutrients

Answer 6

• Magnesium
• Iron
• Phosphate ions
• Calcium

Question 7

What is magnesium important for and what can a lack of magnesium lead to?

Answer 7

• Magnesium is an important constituent of chlorophyll and therefore essential for photosynthesis.
• A lack of magnesium means that plants cannot make chlorophyll and so the leaves are yellow, a condition known as chlorosis.
• Mammals need magnesium for their bones.

Question 8

What is iron important for and what can a lack of iron lead to?

Answer 8

• Iron is a constituent of haemoglobin, which transports oxygen in red blood cells.
• A lack of iron in the human diet can lead to anemia.

Question 9

What are phosphate ions important for?

Answer 9

• Phosphate ions are used for making nucleotides, including ATP
• They are also a constituent of phospholipids, found in biological membranes.

Question 10

What is calcium important for?

Answer 10

• Calcium is an important structural component of bones and teeth in mammals.
• It is also a component of plant cell walls, providing strength.

Question 11

What does the term organic mean?

Answer 11

Molecules that have a high proportion of carbon atoms.

Question 12

What is an inorganic ion?

Answer 12

A molecule or ion that has no more than one carbon atom.