Inorganic Ions (page 29)

Question 1

What are Inorganic Ions?

Answer 1

They are just teeny tiny little things, but they’re essential for many bilogical processes.

Question 2

Inorganic Ions have an electric charge, true or false?

Answer 2

True

Question 3

What is an Ion?

Answer 3

it is an atom (or group of atoms) that has an electric charge.

Question 4

What is an Ion with a positive charged called?

Answer 4

a cation

Question 5

What is an Ion with a negative charged called?

Answer 5

an anion

Question 6

An inorganic ion is one which do or dont contail carbon?

Answer 6

do contain carbon. (although there are a few expections to this rule).

Question 7

Inorganic ions are really important in biological processes.
Name the ones you need to know about (x10)? list cation and Anions

Answer 7

Cations:

Calcium
Sodium
Potassium
Hydrogen
Ammonium

Anions:

Nitrate
Hydrogencarbonate
Chloride
Phosphate
Hydroxide

Question 8

Give me examples of roles in biological processes for Ion ‘Calcium’ Ca²+ ions (cations)

Answer 8

Calcium ion is involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and the release of insulin from the pancreas. Acts as a cofactor for many enzymes (see page 47), e.g. those involved in blood clotting. Is important for bone formation.

(cofactor means a substancd (other than the substrate) whose presence is essential for the activity of an enzyme).

Question 9

Give some examples of the roles in biological processes for Sodium Na+ ions (cations)

Answer 9

Sodium is important for generating nerve impulses, for muscle contraction and for regulating fluid balance in the body.

Question 10

Give examples of roles in biological processes for Potassium K+ ions (cations)

Answer 10

Potassium K+ is important for generating nerve impulses, for muscle contraction and for regulating fluid balance in the body. Activates essential enzymes needed for photosynthesis in plant cells.

Question 11

Give examples of roles in biological processes for Hydrogen H+? ions (cations)

Answer 11

Hydrogen H+ affects the pH of substances (more H+ ions than OH- ions in a solution creates an acid). Also important for photosynthesis reactions that occur in the thylakoid membranes inside chloroplasts (see page 12).

Question 12

Give examples of roles in biological processes for Ammonium NH⁴+ ions (cations)?

Answer 12

Ammonium Absorbed from the soil by plants and is an important source of nitrogen (which is then used to make, e.g. amino acids, nucleic acids).

Question 13

Give examples of the roles in biological processes for Nitrate NO³- ions (Anions)

Answer 13

Nitrate is absorbed from the soil by plants and is an important source of nitrogen (which is then used to make, e.g. amino acids, nucleic acids) - same as Ammonium (cations ions).

Question 14

Give examples of roles in biological processes for Hydrogencarbonate Ions HCO³- (anions)

Answer 14

Hydrogencarbonate icts as a buffer, which helps to maintain the pH of the blood.

Question 15

Give examples of roles in biological processes for Chloride ions Cl- (anions)

Answer 15

Chloride ions are involved in the ‘chloride shift’ which helps to maintain the pH of the blood during gas exchange (see page 87). Acts as a cofactor for the enzyme amylase (see page 47). Also involved in some nerve impulses.

Question 16

Give examples of the roles in biological processes for Phosphate PO43- ions (anions)

Answer 16

Phosphate ions is involved in photosynthesis and respiration reactions. Needed for the synthesis of many biological molecules, such as nucleotides (including ATP), phospholipids, and calcium phosphate (which strengthens bones).

Question 17

Give examples of roles in biological processes for Hydroxide ions OH- (anions)

Answer 17

Hydroxide OH- ions affects the pH of substance (more OH- ions than H+ ions in a solution creates an alkali).

Question 18

What is the difference between a cation and an anion?

Answer 18

Cations are ions that are positiely charged.

Anions are ions that are negatively charged.

Ions are charged atoms or molecules. If a balanced aton loses one or more electrons, it will become a positively charged cation.

(ions are formed when an atom transfers its electrons to another atom. the aton which loses electrons becomes a cation. the atom which gains the electrons is called an anion).

Question 19

Write the chemical symbols for the following ions:

calcium
Sodium
Potassium
Hydrogen
ammonium
nitrate
Hydrogencarbonate
Chloride
Phosphate
Hydroxide?

Answer 19

calcium Ca²+
Sodium Na+
Potassium K+
Hydrogen H+
Ammonium NH4+
Nitrate NO3-
Hydrocarbonate HCO3-
Chloride Cl-
Phosphate PO43-
Hydroxide OH-

Question 20

Carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) is a weak acid present in the blood. A reaction with water causes a hydrogen ion to dissociate from the carbonic acid molecule. Name the anion that’s formed in this reaction and write its chemical symbol?

Answer 20

Hydrogencarbonate (1 mark). HCO3- (1 mark). If a H²CO³ molecule loses a hydrogen ion (H+) it will become HC²_ (you’re told in the question an anion is made, so you should definitely know to add the minus sign).
³

you need to make sure you know the difference between a cation and an anion for starters. then get learning all the names and chemical symbols from the ions list - you’ll definately meet some of these inorganic ions again in your biology studies, so good idea to learn them all for your exams.