A cell is not only a structural unit of all living things, a kind of brick of life, but also a small biochemical factory in which various transformations and reactions occur every fraction of a second. Thus, the structural components necessary for life and growth of the body are formed: minerals of the cell, water and organic compounds. Therefore, it is very important to know what will happen if any of them is not enough. What role do various compounds play in the life of these tiny structural particles of living systems that are not visible to the naked eye? We will try to understand this issue.
Classification of cell substances
All compounds that make up the mass of a cell, form its structural parts and are responsible for its development, nutrition, respiration, plastic and energy metabolism, normal development, can be divided into three large groups. These are categories such as:
- organic
- inorganic substances of the cell (mineral salts);
- water.
Often the latter is referred to the second group of inorganic components. In addition to these categories, it is possible to designate those that are made up of their combination. These are metals that make up the molecule of organic compounds (for example, a hemoglobin molecule containing an iron ion is protein in nature).
Mineral substances of the cell
Speaking specifically about the mineral or inorganic compounds that make up each living organism, they are also unequal in nature and in quantitative content. Therefore, they have their own classification.
All inorganic compounds can be divided into three groups.
- Macronutrients. Those whose content inside the cell is more than 0.02% of the total mass of inorganic substances. Examples: carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, sulfur, phosphorus, sodium.
- Trace elements - less than 0.02%. These include: zinc, copper, chromium, selenium, cobalt, manganese, fluorine, nickel, vanadium, iodine, germanium.
- Microelements - content less than 0.0000001%. Examples: gold, cesium, platinum, silver, mercury and some others.
You can also especially highlight several elements that are organogenic, that is, form the basis of the organic compounds from which the body of a living organism is built. These are elements such as:
- hydrogen;
- nitrogen;
- carbon;
- oxygen.
They build molecules of proteins (the basis of life), carbohydrates, lipids and other substances. However, mineral substances are also responsible for the normal functioning of the body. The chemical composition of the cell is counted by dozens of elements from the periodic table, which are the key to successful life. Only about 12 of all atoms do not play a role at all, or is it negligible and not studied.
Particularly important are some salts that must be ingested with food every day in sufficient quantities so that various diseases do not develop. For plants, this is, for example, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate. For humans and animals, these are calcium salts, table salt as a source of sodium and chlorine, etc.
Water
Mineral substances of the cell are combined with water in a general group of inorganic substances, therefore it cannot be said about its significance. What role does it play in the body of living things? Huge. At the beginning of the article, we compared a cell to a biochemical factory. So, all the transformations of substances occurring every second are carried out precisely in the aquatic environment. It is a universal solvent and medium for chemical interactions, processes of synthesis and decay.
In addition, water is part of the internal environment:
- cytoplasm;
- cell sap in plants;
- blood in animals and humans;
- urine
- saliva of other biological fluids.
Dehydration means death for all organisms, without exception. Water is a living environment for a huge number of diverse representatives of flora and fauna. Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of this inorganic substance ; it is truly infinitely great.
Macronutrients and their meaning
Mineral substances of the cell for its normal operation are of great importance. First of all, this applies to macronutrients. The role of each of them has been studied in detail and has long been established. What atoms make up the group of macroelements, we have already listed above, so we will not repeat. We briefly outline the role of the main ones.
- Calcium. Its salts are necessary for the supply of Ca 2+ ions to the body. The ions themselves participate in the processes of stopping and coagulation of blood, provide exocytosis of the cell, as well as muscle contractions, including cardiac contractions. Insoluble salts are the basis of strong bones and teeth of animals and humans.
- Potassium and sodium. They maintain the state of the membrane potential of the cell, form a sodium-potassium pump of the heart.
- Chlorine - is involved in ensuring the electroneutrality of the cell.
- Phosphorus, sulfur, nitrogen - are components of many organic compounds, and also take part in the work of muscles, bone composition.
Of course, if we examine each element in more detail, we can say a lot about its excess in the body, and about the lack. After all, both of them are harmful and lead to various diseases.
Trace elements
The role of minerals in the cell, which belong to the group of trace elements, is also great. Despite the fact that their content is very small in the cell, without them it will not be able to function normally for a long time. The most important of all the above atoms in this category are such as:
- iodine;
- zinc;
- copper;
- selenium;
- fluorine;
- cobalt.
A normal level of iodine is necessary to maintain thyroid function and hormone production. The body needs fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel, and plants need to maintain elasticity and rich color of leaves.
Zinc and copper are elements that make up many enzymes and vitamins. They are important participants in the processes of synthesis and plastic metabolism.
Selenium is an active participant in regulatory processes; it is an element necessary for the endocrine system to function. Cobalt has another name - vitamin B 12 , and all compounds of this group are extremely important for the immune system.
Therefore, the functions of minerals in the cell, which are formed by microelements, are no less than those that perform macrostructures. Therefore, it is important to consume both in sufficient quantities.
Microelements
Mineral substances of the cell, which are formed by ultramicroelements, do not play such a significant role as the above. However, their long-term deficiency can lead to the development of very unpleasant, and sometimes very dangerous consequences for health.
For example, selenium is also assigned to this group. Its prolonged lack provokes the development of cancerous tumors. Therefore, it is considered indispensable. But gold and silver are metals that have a negative effect on bacteria, destroying them. Therefore, inside the cell they play a bactericidal role.
However, in general, it should be said that the functions of ultramicroelements have not yet been fully disclosed by scientists, and their significance remains unclear.
Metals and Organic Substances
Many metals are part of organic molecules. For example, magnesium is a coenzyme of chlorophyll necessary for plant photosynthesis. Iron is part of the hemoglobin molecule, without which it is impossible to breathe. Copper, zinc, manganese and others are parts of molecules of enzymes, vitamins and hormones.
Obviously, all these compounds are important for the body. It is impossible to attribute them completely to mineral ones, but partially they should nevertheless.
Mineral substances of the cell and their significance: Grade 5, table
To summarize what we said during the article, we will draw up a general table in which we reflect what mineral compounds are and why they are needed. You can use it when explaining this topic to students, for example, in the fifth grade.
| Mineral group | Atom Examples | Value for the body |
| Macronutrient compounds | C, H, P, O, S, N, Ca, K, Mg, CL, Na, Fe and others | Participate in all processes of synthesis and decay, ensure the normal functioning of the whole organism |
| Substances formed by trace elements | Cu, Zn, I, Mn, Co and others | Provide the work of muscles, membrane potentials, are part of vitamins, enzymes, hormones |
| Micronutrients in the body | The most important is selenium, as well as mercury, gold, platinum and others. | Participate in regulatory processes |
Thus, the mineral substances of the cell and their significance will be assimilated by schoolchildren in the course of the main stage of training.
The consequences of a lack of mineral compounds
When we say that the role of minerals in the cell is important, we must give examples to prove this fact.
We list some diseases that develop with a deficiency or excess of any of the compounds identified during the article.
- Hypertension.
- Ischemia, heart failure.
- Goiter and other thyroid diseases (Bazedov’s disease and others).
- Anemia.
- Improper growth and development.
- Cancerous tumors.
- Fluorosis and caries.
- Blood diseases.
- Disorder of the muscle and nervous system.
- Indigestion.
Of course, this is not a complete list. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully ensure that the daily diet is correct and balanced.