inorganic Ions

Inorganic ions play many important roles in cell metabolism.

They can be divided into 2 separate groups

macronutrients: Are only needed in small amounts in living organisms

Micronutrients: are only needed in minute amounts.

Calcium

plants: deficiency can lead to stunted growth because Ca is a constituent of the middle lamella.

Animals: deficiency causes rickets and affects blood clotting. Ca is also needed for muscle contraction as well as in bones and teeth.

Chloride

needed for stomach acid.

needed for electrical and osmotic properties of the cell membrane.

Magnesium

It's present in bones and teeth.

It is a constituent of chlorophyll.

Cholorosis is the name of the deficiency.

Nitrate

stunted growth is a deficiency symptom in plants.

It's an important constituent of many biological molecules, eg amino acids, proteins, nucleic acid, ATP, coenzymes and some hormones.

Phosphate

major structural role in bones and teeth.

It's also an important constituent of many biological molecules, eg ATP, nucleic acids, coenzymes and some proteins.

has a role in the phospholipid component of cell membranes.

Poor root growth and purple younger leaves are deficiency symptoms of plants.

Potassium

A deficiency leads to the yellowing of leaf edges and dead spots.

It's important to the cell membrane.

it's needed for nerve impulse transmission and other active transport mechanisms.

It's needed for protein synthesis and is an important cofactor in respiration.

Sodium

It's important to the cell membrane in maintaining the electrical and osmotic balance.

It's also important in active transport mechanisms