Inorganic Nutrients

The chain of generation and degradation of food is highly considered to be an organic process and originates at the photosynthesis that is carried out by plant leaves and ends upon the decomposition of animal waste by micro organisms. The principle matter that is involved in the process in totality is carbon which makes the process an organic one. Indeed the nutrients that are passed on from one organism to another include carbon based compounds such as sugars, carbohydrates, fats and proteins, but the existence of inorganic compounds (not having a carbon basis) should not be denied.

What are Inorganic Nutrients?

As mentioned above the cycle of food starts with plants and photosynthesis. The leaves of the plants generate carbon based nutrition such as sugars, starch, carbohydrates, etc. Eventually, these are transferred to animals and in the end, these same sugars are broken down into simpler elements and compounds that are again organic in nature. There are however, numerous elements and compounds that are inorganic in nature, but are absolutely essential for completion of the aforesaid cycle.

List of Inorganic Nutrients

Here is a small list of inorganic elements that are required to complete the cycle of food. It must be noted that the following nutrients are an absolute necessity in almost all organisms. Though, the role of such nutrients is important, their presence, volume wise, is relatively micro and almost immeasurable.

Boron
Boron is a very important inorganic nutrient that is required by most of the vascular plants and algae etc. This element is an absolute necessity and helps in maintaining a cell integrity, whether or not the organism is a multicellular one or a unicellular one.

Calcium
Calcium is required by almost every organism. In the animals, calcium has an important place as it helps in body building. Bones of all skeletal animals are virtually made up of calcium. In some cases, where calcium is taken through non-elemental forms such as calcium carbonate, it is of organic nature. Though, when it is utilized by the body it assumes an elemental form which is inorganic.

Magnesium
Another important inorganic nutrient that is essential for survival is magnesium. Magnesium is required for many aspects such as DNA and RNA or even for production of 300 different enzymes in human body. The plants too, require magnesium to maintain their chlorophyll. In short, magnesium is required for survival and is as important as water and oxygen.

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is invaluable for all organisms, multicellular or unicellular alike. This element is used by every known form of life, and is used in different cellular operations such as building the cell membrane as well as building the DNA or RNA. It must be noted that phosphorus is rarely used in a direct elemental form. In most of the cases, this inorganic nutrient is used in the form of compounds.

Sulfur
Another important element that is converted into useful compounds by the cells is sulfur. There are innumerable volumes of sulfur is required by almost all living organisms. Right from DNA and cells to enzymes and essential acids, sulfur is employed by living beings in countless processes.

Though, these elements are not consumed by living beings in direct form, there are several modes of indirect consumption. For example, a sulfate ion is absorbed by plants through the soil and is converted into sulfide and sulfur. In fact water which sustains all life on earth is also an inorganic nutrient.