| Inorganic Chemical | Class | Formula/Composition | Immediate role | Upstream inputs | Downstream outputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Polar molecule | H2O | Universal solvent, reactant, temperature buffer | Precipitation, metabolic water | Hydration shells, hydrolysis reactions |
| Oxygen gas | Diatomic molecule | O2 | Terminal electron acceptor in aerobic respiration, photosynthetic product | Photosynthesis, atmospheric mixing | H2O via respiration, ROS |
| Carbon dioxide | Linear molecule | CO2 | Carbon source for photosynthesis, product of respiration | Respiration, combustion | Carbohydrates via Calvin cycle |
| Nitrogen gas | Diatomic molecule | N2 | Atmospheric N source for fixation | Atmospheric reservoir | NH3, organic N via nitrogen fixation |
| Ammonia | Inorganic base | NH3 / NH4+ | Nitrogen nutrient for plants/microbes | Nitrogen fixation, organic N mineralization | Nitrate via nitrification, amino acids |
| Nitrite ion | Inorganic anion | NO2- | Intermediate in nitrogen cycle | Nitrification, denitrification | Nitrate, N2 gas |
| Nitrate ion | Inorganic anion | NO3- | Plant/microbial nitrogen source | Nitrification | Organic N, N2 gas via denitrification |
| Phosphate ion | Inorganic oxyanion | PO4^3- / H2PO4- / HPO4^2- | Essential nutrient (ATP, nucleic acids) | Mineral weathering, OM mineralization | Biomass P, precipitated minerals |
| Sulfate ion | Inorganic oxyanion | SO4^2- | Sulfur nutrient, electron acceptor | Weathering of sulfates, OM mineralization | Sulfide via microbial reduction |
| Sulfide ion | Inorganic anion | S^2- / HS- | Reduced S form, microbial electron donor | Sulfate reduction | Elemental S, SO4^2- |
| Chloride ion | Inorganic anion | Cl- | Osmotic balance, enzyme cofactor | Halite dissolution, atmospheric deposition | Biomass Cl, leaching |
| Sodium ion | Inorganic cation | Na+ | Osmotic balance, some enzyme cofactor roles | Mineral dissolution (halite) | Sodium salts, ion gradients |
| Potassium ion | Inorganic cation | K+ | Essential plant/microbial nutrient | Mineral dissolution (feldspar, mica) | Biomass K, ion gradients |
| Calcium ion | Inorganic cation | Ca2+ | Structural role in cell walls, signaling | Calcite/dolomite weathering | Ca salts, cell wall crosslinks |
| Magnesium ion | Inorganic cation | Mg2+ | Chlorophyll central atom, enzyme cofactor | Dolomite/olivine weathering | Biomass Mg, Mg salts |
| Iron (ferrous) ion | Inorganic cation | Fe2+ | Electron donor, enzyme cofactor | Mineral dissolution under reducing conditions | Fe3+ via oxidation |
| Iron (ferric) ion | Inorganic cation | Fe3+ | Electron acceptor, enzyme cofactor | Oxidation of Fe2+, mineral weathering | Fe2+ via reduction, Fe oxides |
| Manganese ion | Inorganic cation | Mn2+ | Enzyme cofactor, photosystem II water-splitting | Mineral weathering | Mn oxides via oxidation |
| Zinc ion | Inorganic cation | Zn2+ | Enzyme cofactor, structural role in proteins | Mineral weathering | Biomass Zn, Zn salts |
| Copper ion | Inorganic cation | Cu+/Cu2+ | Electron transfer in respiration/photosynthesis | Mineral weathering | Biomass Cu, Cu salts |
| Cobalt ion | Inorganic cation | Co2+ | Cofactor in vitamin B12 | Mineral weathering | Biomass Co, corrinoids |
| Hydrogen ion (proton) | Inorganic ion | H+ | pH control, proton motive force | Acid dissociation, water autoprotolysis | Water, metabolic proton gradients |
| Hydroxide ion | Inorganic ion | OH- | pH control, base catalysis | Water autoprotolysis, base addition | Water, metal hydroxides |
Integration notes:
- These inorganic chemicals are the free ionic and molecular forms — the “mobile” inorganic currency — that link the Inorganic Minerals pool to the Organic Chemicals and biological systems.
- Many entries directly tie to your Organic Minerals list via chelation or precipitation (e.g., Ca2+ ↔ calcium oxalate, Mg2+ ↔ chlorophyll-Mg complex).
- They also serve as nodes in major biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, S, Fe, etc.) that are relevant across soil, algae, mycelium, and genetic code contexts.
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Broadband
A general term for always-on, high-speed Internet access. Broadband can be delivered over fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, cellular, or satellite networks.
Cloud Computing
Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.
Cybersecurity
The practices and controls used to protect identities, devices, networks, applications, and data from unauthorized access, disruption, or manipulation.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.
API
An application programming interface is a defined way for software systems to exchange data or request functions from one another.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Software designed to perform tasks involving prediction, classification, generation, reasoning, or decision support. Business use still requires clear data, governance, security, and human accountability.