Inorganic ions

• Where are inorganic ions?

  In the cytoplasm, body fluids and larger molecules, usually in high or low concentrations.
• What are the 4 points of hydrogen ions?

  1. Pure water slightly dissociates into equal concentrations of H+ and OH-.
  2. Excess of H+ lowers the pH of a solution, whereas an excess of OH- raises the pH of a solution.
  3. Equal concentrations are termed 'neutral' solutions.
  4. Aqueous solutions vary in pH, according to amount of H+ or OH- ions present
• What are the 3 points of iron ions?

  1. Iron ions are an inorganic component of haemoglobin - one iron atom forms part of a haem group to be a prosthetic group
  2. Iron has a high affinity for oxygen because they are both charged ions, so they bind together to make oxyhaemoglobin.
  3. Iron is an essential part of our diet - without, you become anaemic (blood is low on oxygen)
• What are phosphate ions used in?

  Joining nucleotides together in DNA or RNA, role in ATP, forms the hydrophilic heads on phospholipids