inorganic ions

• Calcium - Ca2+


  cation

  involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and the release of insulin from the pancreas

  acts as a cofactor for many enzymes

  e.g. those involved in blood clotting

  is important for bone formation
• sodium - Na+


  cation

  important for generating nerve impulses, for muscle contraction and regulating fluid balance in the body
• potassium- K+


  cation

  important for generating nerve impulses, for muscle contraction and for regulating fluid balance in the body

  activates essential enzymes needed for photosynthesis in plant cells
• hydrogen - H+


  cation

  affects the pH of the substances, important for photosynthesis reactions that occur in the thylakoid membranes inside the chloroplast and respiration reactions that occur in the inner membrane membrane of mitochondria