Our body transmits electrical signals using charged atoms, which possess either a positive or negative charge due to the gain or loss of electrons. What are these charged atoms called? a) Ions b) Covalent molecules c) Organic molecules

The charged atoms used in the transmission of electrical signals in our body are called Ions. An ion is an atom or molecule that has a net electrical charge. If the atom has lost one or more electrons, it has a positive charge and is called a cation. If the atom has gained one or more electrons, it has a negative charge and is called an anion.

• Ions are critical to many biological processes, including nerve impulse transmission. Our nerve cells, or neurons, use ions such as sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), calcium (Ca2+), and chloride (Cl-) to create electrical signals. These ions move in and out of cells through specialized proteins called ion channels. The movement of ions across the cell membrane changes the electrical charge of the neuron, leading to the generation and propagation of electrical signals. It is the controlled flow of these ions in and out of the neurons that allows the nervous system to communicate with the rest of the body, enabling actions, responses, and sensations.
• Covalent molecules (option b) and organic molecules (option c) are different types of molecules. Covalent molecules are composed of atoms bonded together by sharing electrons. Organic molecules are a broad category of substances that, in biological contexts, contain carbon and are found in living organisms. These include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, but they are not generally involved in the transmission of electrical signals in the manner ions are.