Inorganic ions Flashcards
What is an ion?
1) An ion is an atom or molecule that has an electric charge.
Name for a +ve/ -ve ion?
+ : cation
- : anion
2) What is an inorganic ion?
An inorganic ion is an ion that (generally) doesn’t contain carbon.
3) Where in an organism would you expect to find inorganic ions?
3) Inorganic ions are found, in solution, in the cell cytoplasm and in the bodily fluids of organisms.
State one function of sodium ions in the human body.
E.g. sodium ions are able to help transport glucose and amino acids into a cell across the cell-surface membrane in a process known as co-transport.
What determines the pH of a substance?
Ph is determined by the concerntration of hydrogen ions in the environment.
The more pH ions, the lower the pH (= more acidic)
What effect does exercise have on the pH of the blood?
During exercise, the carbon dioxide concentration in the blood increases, which leads to an increase in the hydrogen ion concentration in the blood. An increase in hydrogen ions will lower the pH of the blood and increase its acidity.
Iron ions are important to the function of red blood cells. Explain why.
The function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen around the body. Iron ions are a vital component of haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that is responsible for binding to oxygen. Haemoglobin is made from four different polypeptide chains, each with an Fe²+ iron ion at its centre. Oxygen binds to the Fe²+ ion which then becomes an Fe³+ ion. When the oxygen is released at the target location, the ion reverts back to an Fe²+ ion.
