I need this information for a School Project
2006-08-14 05:14:36 · 5 answers · asked by beeboroachgoingon197 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Also I would like someone to define "Living Systems"
2006-08-14 06:29:58 · update #1
One of the top reasons is this: Metals tend to be active sites for enzyme reactions.
So let's refine that further.
Isaac Asimov (who had a PhD in biochemistry) defined life as, "A system w/ a cellular structure that causes a local decrease in entropy by using enzymatic catalysis."
So, according to Asimov, enzymes are essential in the definition of life.
What are enzymes? They are catalysts, compounds that speed up chemical reactions, which do so by having special structures that can accomodate large organic compounds.
Metals play a vital role in this b/c they have electrons in orbitals, which possess the right energy and to promote a chemical reaction quickly. (Chemical reactions involve sharing or transfer of electrons between atoms). Metals can do this even while remaining bonded to other atoms, which form the structure of the enzyme.
Metals can also be part of the material that gets acted on by the enzyme.
Some examples are
Mg in the porphyrin ring that is involved in photosynthesis
Fe in the porphyin ring that is part of hemoglobin
Even heavy metals, such as Cadmium, are required in trace amounts b/c they are part of certain enzymes.
This is a really rough explanation. See the references below for better info
2006-08-14 09:53:19 · answer #1 · answered by Iridium190 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lets take human beings for example.
We have require for various metals and it is compounds for various parts of the body.
1. Iron - essential constituent of in blood , bone marrow, and liver
2. Calcium - essential for the bone and muscle contractions
3. Potassium - essential for the nervous system
4. Sodium - essential for the nervous system and the ultra-filtration in kidneys.
we also need small traces of lead, mercury, copper and gold in the body for proper metabolism.
Plants require metals too.
They require magnesium for green leaves and calcium for Cell Wall. Plants require iron , potassium, sodium and copper etc. for proper hormonal balance and metabolism.
2006-08-14 05:51:32 · answer #2 · answered by Rabindra 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Magnesium is found in Chlorophyll, the stuff that makes plants green and also allows them to harness the sun's energy to produce food for itself.
2006-08-14 05:44:52 · answer #3 · answered by seikenfan922 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sodium is essential for life also since our blood has a Normal salinity of 0.85% NaCl.
2006-08-14 05:43:55 · answer #4 · answered by WarLabRat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you need iron for a healthy blood
2006-08-14 05:18:14 · answer #5 · answered by cooler 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋