water and inorganic ions

Question 1

why is water a polar molecule

Answer 1

O more electronegative than H so attracts electron density in the covalent bond more strongly

forms delta negative O and delta positive H

Question 2

state 4 biologically important properties of water

Answer 2

-metabolite/solvent for chemical reactions
-high SHC
-high latent heat of vapourisation
-cohesion between molecules

Question 3

why is water significant to living organisms

Answer 3

-solvent for polar molecules during metabloic reactions
-enables organisms to avoid fluctuations in core temp
-cohesion-tension of water molecules in transpiration stream

Question 4

what are inorganic ions and where in the body are they found

Answer 4

-ions that don’t contain C atoms
-found in cytoplasm and extracellular fluids
-may be in high/very low concs

Question 5

explain the role of H ions in the body

Answer 5

high conc of H+ = low (acidic) pH
-H+ ions interact with H bonds and ionic bonds in tertiary structure of proteins, can cause them to denature

Question 6

role of Fe ions in body

Answer 6

Fe2+ bonds to porphyrin ring to form haem group in haemoglobin

haem group has binding site to transport 1 molecule of o2 around body

4 haem groups per haemoglobin molecule

Question 7

role of Na+ ions in body

Answer 7

co-transport for absorption of AA and glucose in lumen of gut

involved in propagation of AP in neurons

Question 8

role of phosphate ions in body

Answer 8

-DNA
-ATP
-NADP
cAMP