Water and Inorganic Ions Flashcards
What determines an ion’s specific role?
It’s properties
What is the role of sodium?
Used for co-transport for absorbing simple sugars and amino acids
Conducting nerve impulses
What are some properties of water?
A metabolite in metabolic reactions A solvent Cohesive and adhesive High latent heat of vaporisation High specific heat capacity
What is the role of hydrogen?
Controlling the pH
More H+ ions = high acidity
It could denature enzymes and proteins that are working in your body
Needed for ATP synthesis
What is the role of phosphate?
Used in the sugar backbone of DNA and RNA
Used in ATP
What is the role of iron?
Used in the prosthetic group in haemoglobin (Haem group)
Responsible for the affinity of binding oxygen to haemoglobin
How does water as a solvent dissolve substances?
Anything polar or charged will dissolve in water as it will overcome the hydrogen bonding (between water molecules) and therefore the solute will be surrounded by the water molecules as they have hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends
What is high latent heat of vaporisation?
Latent - period where a state is changing (plateau on graph)
Therefore needs a lot of energy to change from liquid to gas because you have to over come the hydrogen bonds
Why is it important that water has a high specific heat capacity?
Important for internal environments: easier to maintain a stable body temperature which is essential for enzyme action (because it takes a lot of energy to gain or lose degrees)
Important for external environments: it resists temperature changes i.e sand is hot whilst the sea is cool even though it received the same amount of energy
Regulates temp of planet - sea temp not rising
Why is water being polar significant?
The molecules attract to each other because of the polarity
Causing hydrogen bonds between the molecules
Therefore cohesion between molecules
What is a cation?
A positive ion
Pawsitive
What are some examples where water is a metabolite?
Hydrolysis
Condensation
Photosynthesis
What is an inorganic ion?
Doesn’t contain carbon (some exceptions)
Vital for cellular activity in animals and plants
Called electrolytes in body tissues
Where do inorganic ions occur?
In solutions in the cytoplasm of cells
In bodily fluids of organisms
What is significant about the solid state of water? Why?
Ice is less dense than it’s liquid form of water
This is because of the hydrogen bonds
