Free Inorganic Ions revision notes for OCR A Level Biology – covering specification point 2.1.2(p).
Inorganic Ions
Inorganic ions are essential to the maintenance of physical structures and physiological mechanisms in organisms. A lack of an inorganic ion can result in deficiency symptoms or diseases.
Positive ions are called cations, and negative ions are called anions.
The table below lists the common cations:
Name
Symbol
Calcium
Ca²⁺
Sodium
Na⁺
Potassium
K⁺
Hydrogen
H⁺
Ammonium
NH₄⁺
The table below lists the common anions:
Name
Symbol
Nitrate
NO₃⁻
Hydrogencarbonate
HCO₃⁻
Chloride
Cl⁻
Phosphate
PO₄³⁻
Hydroxide
OH⁻
These inorganic ions will appear throughout the biological processes studied throughout the AS and A level course. You are expected to recognise and recall their symbols.
