Inorganic Ions

Inorganic ions like iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphate are key components of molecules in living things.

Role of ions in living organisms

Calcium Ca2+

• Calcium phosphate is an important structural component of bones and teeth.
• Calcium ions are important in the transmission of nervous impulses and in the contraction of muscles.

Magnesium Mg2+

• Ions are central to photosynthesis in plants because they are a constituent of chlorophyll.
• Some enzymes which catalyse the breakdown of ATP have these ions at their active sites.

Iron Fe2+

• Iron is a component of haemoglobin, which circulates oxygen around the body.
• Haemoglobin has iron ions at its core to bind it to the oxygen.

Phosphate PO43-

• Used for making nucleotides
• With calcium it makes calcium phosphate that gives bones their strength.