Inorganic Ions

• what is a cation?

  a positive ion
• what is an anion?

  a negative ion
• what does the word inorganic mean?

  doesn‘t contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
• what is the symbol for calcium?

  Ca 2+
• what are calcium’s uses?

  • clotting blood
  • muscle contraction
  • increases rigidity of bone, teeth, cartilage and is a component of exoskeleton of crustaceans
  • activator for enzyme (lipase, ATPase)
  • regulates transmission of nerve cells
  • cell wall development in plant formation of middle lamella between cell walls
• what is the symbol for sodium?

  Na +
• what are the uses of sodium?

  • regulation of osmotic pressure, control of water levels in body fluid
  • maintain pH
  • affects absorption of carbohydrate in intestine and water in kidney
  • nervous transmission, muscle contraction
  • constituent of vacuole in plants which maintains turgidity
• what is the symbol for potassium?

  K +
• what are the uses of potassium?

  • control of water levels in body fluid
  • maintain pH
  • active transport of materials across membrane
  • synthesis of glycogen and protein, breakdown of glucose
  • generates healthy leaves and flowers in plants
  • nervous transmission and muscle contraction
  • component of vacuoles to maintain turgidity
• what is the symbol for hydrogen?

  H +
• what are the uses of hydrogen?

  • production of hydrochloric acid in stomach
  • involved in photosynthesis and respiration
  • involved in transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
  • involved in regulation of blood pH
• what is the symbol of ammonium?

  NH (lower 4) +
• what are the uses of ammonium?

  • component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins and chlorophyll
  • some hormones are made of proteins (insulin)
  • essential component of nucleic acids
  • involved in maintenance of pH in the human body
  • component of the nitrogen cycle
• what is the symbol for nitrate?

  NO (lower 3) -
• what are the uses of nitrate?

  • component of amino acids, proteins, vitamins and chlorophyll
  • essential component of nucleic acids
  • component of nitrogen cycle
• what is the symbol of hydrogen-carbonate?

  HCO (lower 3) -
• what are the uses of hydrogen-carbonate?

  • involved in the regulation of blood pH
  • involved in transport of carbon dioxide into and out of the blood
• what is the symbol for chloride?

  Cl -
• what are the uses of chloride?

  • maintaining the osmotic pressure and fluid balance in the body
  • helps to regulate types of nutrients going in and out of the cells
  • transport of carbon dioxide in the blood
• what is the symbol for phosphate?

  PO (lower 4) 3-
• what are the uses of phosphate?

  • root growth
  • necessary for the formation of bones and teeth
  • used as a building block for several important substances
• what is the symbol for hydroxide?

  OH -
• what are the uses for hydroxide?

  • base - when there is a high concentration of OH- ions it’s alkaline
  • regulation of blood pH
• what is a deficiency?

  a lack of essential nutrients or dietary elements such as vitamins, minerals and ions