Inorganic Ions and Molecules (Bio)

Ion

A charged particle that results from the loss or gain of electrons.

Phosphate

An essential component for energy transfer through ATP and a critical part of nucleotides and nucleic acids like DNA and RNA.

Iron

A mineral crucial for oxygen transport in hemoglobin and myoglobin, playing a key role in cellular respiration.

Hydrogen

An element involved in regulating pH levels and protein structure.

Sodium

An ion involved in glucose and amino-acid transport during absorption.

Potassium

An essential ion for maintaining cellular function and facilitating nerve transmission.

Water

A vital substance for all known forms of life, participating in numerous biological processes.

High Surface Tension

A property of water that allows certain organisms to live on its surface by creating habitats.

Strong Cohesive Properties

Water's ability to pull itself into columns, enabling transport in plant xylem.

Colourless with High Transmission

Allows sunlight penetration in water, essential for aquatic photosynthesis.

High Latent Heat of Vaporisation

Helps regulate body temperatures through cooling via evaporation.

High Specific Heat Capacity

Stabilizes temperature fluctuations in environments to help maintain homeostasis.

Universal Solvent

Water’s polar nature allows it to dissolve various ionic and polar substances critical for biological reactions.

Metabolite

A substance produced during metabolic reactions, essential in biochemical processes.

Hydrolysis Reaction

A metabolic process that breaks down large molecules during digestion by adding water.

Condensation Reaction

A process that combines smaller biomolecular units into larger ones, releasing water as a byproduct.

Nucleotides

Building blocks of nucleic acids consisting of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, water, and carbon dioxide.

pH Regulation

The process of maintaining an optimal level of acidity or alkalinity in the body.

Transport Mechanism

The method by which substances move across cell membranes or within organisms.

Nerve Transmission

The process through which nerve impulses are conducted along neurons.

Temperature Stabilization

The ability of a substance to minimize temperature changes in an environment.

Nutrient Transport

The movement of essential substances throughout biological systems.

Evaporation Cooling

A cooling process where liquid evaporates and absorbs heat from an organism's body.