Minerals are those chemical elements essential to living organisms to sustain the biochemical reactions of life, apart from Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.
The name "minerals" is a historic term from before the time when atomic structure was known.
Most minerals are, in fact, metal ions, such as sodium, potassium, iron and copper, although non-metal minerals are found, including iodine and phosphorus.
The exact number of essential minerals is still unclear: in humans, for example, sixteen have so far been confirmed.
Anne Evans
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