Inorganic Ions

Question 1

Describe inorganic ions

Answer 1

Found in organisms, specifically in solutions (cytoplasm, bodily fluids) and larger molecules (haemoglobin)

Question 2

Ca2+

Answer 2

• increases rigidity of bone, teeth and cartilage
• is a component in the exoskeleton of crustaceans
• impotent in clotting blood and stimulating muscle contraction
• activator for several enzymes (lipase, ATPase, cholinesterase)
• regulates transmission of nerve impulses
• regulates permeability of cell membranes
• important for cell wall development in plants, and formation of middle lamella between cell walls

Question 3

Na+

Answer 3

• involved in the regulation of osmotic pressure, control of water levels in body fluid and maintenance of pH
• affects absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, and water in the kidney
• contributes to nervous transmission and muscle contraction
• constituent of vacuole in plants which helps maintain turgidity
• co-transport of glucose and amino acids across plasma membranes in the ileum

Question 4

K+

Answer 4

• involved in control over water levels in body fluid and the maintenance of pH
• assists active transport of materials across the cell membrane
• involved in synthesis of glycogen and protein, and break down of glucose
• generates healthy leaves and flowers in flowering plants
• contributes to nervous transmission and muscle contraction
• component of vacuoles in plants, helps maintain turgidity

Question 5

H+

Answer 5

• involved in photosynthesis and respiration
• involved in transportation of O2 and CO2 in the blood
• involved in the regulation of blood pH and therefore enzyme activity

Question 6

NH4+

Answer 6

• a component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins and chlorophyll
• some hormones are made of proteins (e.g. insulin)
• essential component of nucleic acids
• involved in maintenance of pH in human body
• a component in the nitrogen cycle

Question 7

Fe3+

Answer 7

Component in haemoglobin, necessary for the transport of oxygen

Question 8

NO3-

Answer 8

• a component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins and chlorophyll
• an essential component of nucleic acids
• some hormones are made up of proteins, which contain nitrogen (e.g. insulin)
• a component of the nitrogen cycle

Question 9

HCO3-

Answer 9

• involved in the regulation of blood pH

* involved in transport of CO2 into and out of blood

Question 10

Cl-

Answer 10

• helps in production of urine in the kidney, and maintaining water balance
• involved in transport of CO2 into and out of blood
• regulates affinity of haemoglobin to oxygen through allosteric effects on the Hb molecule
• involved in regulation of blood pH
• used to produce HCl (aq) in the stomach

Question 11

PO43-

Answer 11

• increases rigidity of bone, teeth and cartilage
• is a component in the exoskeleton of crustaceans
• component of phospholipids, ATP, DNA and several important enzymes
• involved in regulation of blood pH
• helps root growth in plants

Question 12

OH-

Answer 12

Involved in regulation of blood pH