Inorganic ions

Question 1

What are the roles of calcium (Ca2+

Answer 1

important for increasing rigidity 
- bones
- teeth
- cartilage
- exoskeletons 
also important for 
- blood clotting 
- muscle contraction - stimulation and nerve impulses 
- regulating the permeability of cell membranes 
- cell well development in plants

Question 2

what is a cation?

Answer 2

a positive ion

cats are good

Question 3

what are the roles of Sodium (Na+)?

Answer 3

important for

• regulating osmotic pressure
• controlling water levels in body fluids
• maintenance of pH
• keeping vacuoles turgid
• the absorption of carbs in the intestine and h2o in the kidneys
• nervous transmission

Question 4

what are the roles of potassium (K+)?

Answer 4

it is important for
- the synthesis of glycogen
- the breakdown of glucose
- active transport in cell membranes via sodium potassium pump
- the regulation of water levels in body fluids
the maintenance of pH
- vacuoles turgidity
- nervous transmission (muscle contraction)

Question 5

what are the roles of Magnesium (Mg2+)?

Answer 5

• Mainly important for producing chlorophyll in plants

Question 6

What are the roles of hydrogen (H+)?

Answer 6

important for

• photosynthesis
• respiration
• CO2 and O2 transport in the blood
• regulating pH levels

Question 7

What are the roles of Ammonium (NH4+)?

Answer 7

important for

• producing amino acids and thus proteins
• producing vitamins
• producing vitamins
• producing chlorophyll
• this mean it also builds hormones and nucleic acids
• is part of the nitrogen cycle
• as a proton donor it regulates pH

Question 8

What are Anions?

Answer 8

Negatively charged ions

Question 9

What are the roles of Nitrate (NO3-)?

Answer 9

a component of 
- amino acids 
- proteins 
- vitamins 
- chlorophyll 
- hormones 
- nucleic acids 
- nitrogen cycle 
(same as ammonium ions but not involved in regulating pH)

Question 10

what are the roles of hydrogencarbonate ( HCO3-)?

Answer 10

• involved in regulation of pH

- involved in the transport of CO2 in the blood

Question 11

what are the roles of chloride (Cl-)?

Answer 11

• involved in the regulation of pH
• important in produce HCl in the stomach
• regulates the affinity of blood for oxygen through allosteric effects
• involved in transport of CO2 out of the blood
• involved in the production of urine in the kidneys

Question 12

What are the roles of Phosphate (PO4-3)?

Answer 12

important in th e rigidity of bone, teeth, cartilage and exoskeletons

• component of phospholipids
• part of nucleic acids
• forms ATP
• regulates blood pH
• controls root growth

Question 13

what are the roles of hydroxide (OH-)?

Answer 13

• important in regulating blood pH