Inorganic Ions

Defintions

  • Ion - atom with a charge

  • Inorganic ion - ion without carbon

  • Cation - positive ion

  • Anion - negative ion

Cations

  • Calcium (Ca2+) - used for nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction

  • Sodium (Na+) - Co-transport of glucose and amino acids

  • Potassium (K+) - Regulating fluid balance, muscle contraction

  • Hydrogen (H+) - determines pH of solution, used in photosynthesis reactions

  • Ammonia (NH4+) - Source of nitrogen in plants

  • Iron (Fe2+) - bind to oxygen in haemoglobin

Anions

  • Chloride (Cl-) - maintain blood pH in gas exchange

  • Phosphate (PO43-) - Component of nucleotides, bonds store energy in phosphate

  • Hydroxide (OH-) - determines pH of solutions

  • Nitrate (NO3-) - Source of nitrogen

  • Hydrogencarbonate (HCO3-) - Maintain blood pH