Biol1021 – Ivo Tews
Behavior of Biomolecules
1
,Normally a lecture on metals starts like this:
property METAL NON METAL
conductivity heat, e- insulator
malleability good shatters
flexibility ductile brittle
appearance shiny dull
© Crowe, Table 11.1
How d u l l can it be? 2
,Metal, Metalloids – Periodic Table
Metals Non-Metals (p)
(s, d, f, p) Metalloids
(p)
3
, Eighteen metals in biological systems
• We need several non-metal elements H, C, N, O
• The following nine elements are required in significant
amounts, and called macronutrients:
non-metals: S, P and Cl
metalloids/semi-metals: Si
metals: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe 25 Essential
Elements
• These twelve elements (mainly metals) are required in
small quantities, and called micronutrients:
non-metals: F, I, Se
metals: V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Sn
• Some organisms require further micronutrients
non-metals: Br
metalloids: B, As
metals: Sr, Ba, W, Cd 4