Essential Metals and Their Roles in the Body

This set of flashcards covers essential metals such as Silver, Cobalt, Mercury, and Manganese, detailing their roles and forms in the human body.

Silver (Ag)

Used as an antimicrobial agent in wound dressings and some medical devices.

Silver ion chemical form

Ag⁺ (silver cation)

Cobalt (Co)

Central atom in Vitamin B12 (cobalamin); important for red blood cell formation and nervous system function.

Chemical form of cobalt in B12

Co³⁺ coordinated in corrin ring.

Mercury (Hg)

A toxic heavy metal that can cause CNS damage and accumulates in liver and kidneys.

Common forms of Mercury

Hg⁰ (elemental), Hg²⁺ (ionic, highly toxic), Methylmercury (organic, bioaccumulates in food chain).

Manganese (Mn)

A cofactor in enzymes essential for metabolism of amino acids, carbohydrates, and blood phosphate regulation.

Common cation of Manganese

Mn²⁺.