Final answer:
Inorganic substances important for bodily functions include water, salts, acids, and bases, along with minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. These are essential for maintaining hydration, pH balance, forming bones, and supporting cellular functions. They are obtained through the diet and are crucial for health and growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inorganic substances that are necessary for building bones, tissues, and other compounds include water, salts, acids, and bases, as well as certain minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. These are essential for many bodily functions including maintaining proper hydration, pH balance, and are integral components of bone and tooth structure. Water serves multiple purposes such as a lubricant and reactant in biochemical reactions, while salts dissociate into ions that are crucial for electrical conductivity in the body. Acids and bases help balance the body's pH, and minerals are indispensable in processes such as nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and metabolic pathways.
Minerals cannot be synthesized by the body and therefore must be obtained through diet. They contribute to only about 4% of the body's weight but are vital for cellular function, acting as co-factors for enzymes, and forming structural components of cells. Mineral metabolism involves the utilization and balance of these inorganic elements and is critical for health and growth.