Biology

Minerals and Nutrients

936 Questions

Review essential biology concepts regarding minerals and nutrients in this question bank. It covers trace elements required by plants and minerals crucial for human blood and bone formation. These facts frequently appear in general science exams.

Essential plant micronutrientsChlorophyll synthesis elementsHuman blood and bone mineralsTrace elements in physiology

Minerals and Nutrients Questions

Multiple choice

Iron tablets can be used to supplement the diet. They contain FeSO4. Which one of the following aqueous reagents could be used under suitable conditions to determined the percentage of iron in the tablets by titration?

  1. Oxalic acid

  2. Potassium per manganate

  3. Sulphuric acid

  4. Iodine in potassium iodide

  5. Diclofenac potassium
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Iron supplements contain soluble iron(II) salts to replenish them in the human body in case of deficiency. Iron supplements usually contain about 50mg per tablet of iron(II). Potassium manganate(VII), Mr = 158.034, is a good primary standard, being available to a high degree of purity, having a large relative mass and being stable in the environment thus it is used to determine the percentage of iron in the tablets by titration.

Multiple choice

Hyperphosphatemia is a disease with high levels of inorganic phosphate in the blood.The calcium salt used to lower blood phosphate level is

  1. calcium acetate

  2. calcium arsenate

  3. calcium bisulphite

  4. calcium benzoate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The chemical compound calcium acetate is the calcium salt of acetic acid. It has the formula Ca(C2H3O2)2. In kidney disease, blood levels of phosphate may rise (called hyperphosphatemia) leading to bone problems. Calcium acetate binds phosphate in the diet to lower blood phosphate levels. Calcium acetate is used as a food additive, as a stabilizer, buffer and sequestrant, mainly in candy products. 

Multiple choice

Which one of the following is paramagnetic in nature?

  1. Iron

  2. Hydrogen

  3. Oxygen

  4. Nitrogen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Paramagnetic substances are attracted by magnetic fields due to the presence of unpaired electrons. Oxygen has two unpaired electrons in its molecular orbital structure, making it paramagnetic.