Minerals (Biology)

From ZuluNotes - Free Leaving Cert Notes

Minerals are inorganic elements that plants and animals need in small amounts to function efficiently. Most if not all of minerals can be detected in the body, but only about 15 of them are known to be essential and must be derived from food.

Functions

Minerals have 3 main functions

• As constituents of the bones & teeth. These include Calcium, Phosphorus and Magnesium. In plants, Calcium is needed to make the Middle Lamella which binds the cells together.

• As soluble salts, which help to control the composition of body fluids and cells. These include Sodium and Chloride in the fluids outside the cells (blood) and Potassium, magnesium and phosphorus inside the cells.

• Form part of certain pigments (e.g iron needed to form haemoglobin , magnesium is essential for the formation of chlorophyll