Biological Importance of Sodium and Potassium: Uses & Functions of \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}^{\rm{ + }}}\) and \({{\rm{K}}^ + }\)

Nearly \(27\) elements are required for organisms, \(15\) of which are metals. Major quantities of alkali metals like sodium and potassium, as well as alkaline earth metals like calcium and magnesium, are required. Metals such as iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum, nickel, aluminium, and others are also required in small amounts by certain organisms. In this article let’s learn the biological importance of sodium and potassium in different fields and also the biological importance of sodium and potassium.

What is Sodium?

Sodium is a metal with the atomic number \(11\) and an atomic mass of \(22.989\;{\rm{g}}/{\rm{mol}}\). Its electronic configuration is \(2, 8, 1\) or \({\rm{1}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{2}}}{\rm{,2}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{2}}}{\rm{2}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{6}}}{\rm{,3}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{1}}}\). Sodium is represented by the symbol Na, which is derived from the Latin name Natrium.

It is placed in the first group (alkali metal) and the third period in the modern periodic table. It is an s-block element since the valence electron enters into the s-orbital. Sodium is highly reactive. It catches fire on exposure to oxygen and moisture. Hence it is stored in kerosene.

Study About Potassium Dichromate Here

Occurrence of Sodium

Sodium is the seventh abundant element in nature. Sodium is highly reactive; hence do not occur in the state but are present in the combined state. Sodium is present in relatively large amounts in seawater as sodium chloride and rock salt. Other important minerals of sodium are borax \(\left( {{\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_2}\;{{\rm{B}}_4}{{\rm{O}}_7} \cdot 10{{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{O}}} \right)\), trona \(\left( {{\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_2}{\rm{C}}{{\rm{O}}_3} \cdot {\rm{NaHC}}{{\rm{O}}_3} \cdot 2{{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{O}}} \right)\), chile saltpetre \(\left( {{\rm{NaN}}{{\rm{O}}_3}} \right)\), and sodium sulphate \(\left( {{\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}_2}{\rm{S}}{{\rm{O}}_4}} \right)\).

Uses of Sodium

• 1. An alloy of sodium with mercury (sodium amalgam) is used in the preparation of a number of organic compounds.
• 2. Sodium vapour lamps are used for lighting.
• 3. Sodium is used as a reagent in Lassaigne’s test to detect the presence of nitrogen, sulphur, and halogens in an organic compound.
• 4. It is used to prepare a number of compounds like \({\rm{NaOH}},{\rm{KOH}},{\rm{NaCN}},{\rm{NaN}}{{\rm{H}}_2}\), etc.
• 5. In the molten state, it is used in nuclear reactors as a heat transfer medium.
• 6. An alloy of sodium-potassium is used in high temperature thermometers.
• 7. In the extraction of boron and silicon, sodium is used as a reducing agent.
• 8. Sodium is used in industry for the manufacture of artificial rubber, dyes, drugs, etc.
• 9. Sodium is used in industry for the manufacture of artificial rubber, dyes, drugs, etc.

What is Potassium?

Potassium is a metal with atomic number \(19\) and an atomic mass of \(39.10\;{\rm{g}}/{\rm{mol}}\). Its electronic configuration is \(2, 8, 8, 1\) or \({\rm{1}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{2}}}{\rm{,2}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{2}}}{\rm{2}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{6}}}{\rm{,3}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{2}}}{\rm{3}}{{\rm{p}}^{\rm{6}}}{\rm{,4}}{{\rm{s}}^{\rm{1}}}\). Potassium is represented by the symbol \({\rm{K}}\), which is derived from the Latin name Kalium. It is placed in the first group (alkali metal) and the fourth period in the modern periodic table. It is an s-block element since the valence electron enters into the s-orbital.

Occurrence of Potassium

Potassium is the eighth abundant element in nature. Potassium mainly occurs as sylvite \(({\rm{KCl}})\), sylvinite (a mixture of \({\rm{KCl}}\) and \({\rm{NaCl}}\)) and carnallite (the double salt of \({\rm{KCl}}.{\rm{MgC}}{{\rm{l}}_2}.6{{\rm{H}}_2}{\rm{O}}\)), and feldspar \(\left( {{\rm{KAIS}}{{\rm{i}}_3}{{\rm{O}}_8}} \right)\). Potassium is present in seawater in small quantities.

Uses of Potassium

1. Potassium is used as a reducing agent in chemical reactions.
2. An alloy of sodium-potassium is used in high temperature thermometers.
3. Potassium hydroxide \(({\rm{KOH}})\) is used in the manufacture of soft soaps, also known as toilet soaps.
4. It is also used as an excellent absorber of carbon dioxide.
5. Some of the salts of potassium, such as \({\rm{KCl}},{{\rm{K}}_2}{\rm{S}}{{\rm{O}}_4},{\rm{KN}}{{\rm{O}}_3}\), etc., are used as fertilisers since the metal is essential for the soil.
6. Potassium nitrate is used in ceramics, colour TV tubes and fluorescent light tubes.

What are the Sources of Sodium and Potassium?

The sources of sodium are salt, milk, meat, seafood, canned food, salty snacks, bread, etc. The sources of potassium are vegetables and legumes like avocado, broccoli, carrots, peas, lentils, tomatoes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, fruits like apricots, bananas, citrus fruits, milk, dairy products and nuts, meat, and fish.

What is the Role of Potassium and Sodium in the Biological System?

After calcium, sodium and potassium cations are most common in the biological system. Both sodium and potassium in the form of ions are common and essential constituents of biological fluids. A typical human being weighing about \(70\;{\rm{kg}}\) contains about \(90\;{\rm{g}}\) of sodium, \(170\;{\rm{g}}\) of potassium, \(5\;{\rm{g}}\) of iron and \(\;0.06\,{\rm{g}}\) of copper.

Although \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}^ + }\) and \({{\rm{K}}^ + }\) ions have similar chemical properties, their biological functions are quite different. The \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}^ + }\) ions are present in blood plasma and in the interstitial fluid which surrounds cells. The sodium ions take part in the transmission of nerve signals, regulate the flow of water across cell membranes and help in the transport of different sugars and amino acids in the cells.

The abundant \({{\rm{K}}^ + }\) ions in cell fluids activate a range of enzymes and increase glucose oxidation into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is a source of energy. The transmission of nerve signals is also mediated by sodium and potassium.

On the opposite side of the cell membrane, the concentrations of \({\rm{N}}{{\rm{a}}^ + }\) and \({{\rm{K}}^ + }\) ions differ. The concentrations of sodium and potassium ions in blood plasma, for example, are \(143\) and \(105\, {\rm{ millimol/L }}\), respectively. The concentration gradient or ionic gradient is the name given to this ratio. Work must be done in order to keep the concentration gradient in the cells.

For this, a sodium-potassium pump operates across the cell membrane and consumes nearly \({\rm{1 / 3}}\) of the ATP used by a resting animal.

Summary

Now that you are aware of metal sodium and potassium, such as atomic number, atomic mass, electronic configuration, and so on, from this article Biological Importance of Sodium and Potassium. Sodium and potassium have numerous applications in a variety of industries and play a key part in biological systems. We have learned the role of sodium and potassium in the biological system, as well as other general applications, in this article.

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