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Structures of Biological Minerals

  • Conference paper
Biological Mineralization and Demineralization

Part of the book series: Dahlem Workshop Reports ((DAHLEM LIFE,volume 23))

Abstract

The basic chemical and physical properties of ionic crystals reside in their structures. Structures of the following compounds of biological interest are described: calcium phosphates, a urate, calcium carbonates, and calcium oxalates. To a considerable degree their properties are affected by the presence of impurities and lattice defects in the crystals. In keeping with this, the kinds and locations of impurities and defects in hydroxyapatite are discussed, with special reference to how these affect the transport of ions along the hexagonal channels of hydroxyapatite. The crystal structure of octacalcium phosphate, which has a special relationship to that of hydroxyapatite, is described. The ways in which octacalcium phosphate may affect the growth mechanisms, impurity-defect content, morphology, stoichiometry, and chemical properties of hydroxyapatite are described. It is shown that much of the variability in the chemistry of the β-Ca3(PO4)2-whitlockite series of compounds resides in one of the 21 calciums in a unit cell. It is suggested that the hydrated compounds in all these series of biominerals may have special roles during the nucleation stage, and subsequently because they usually grow more rapidly than the anhydrous forms. The structure of CaCO3·6H2O contains CaCO3 ion pairs entirely isolated from each other by surrounding water molecules; this structural unit may participate in various important biochemical processes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Engineering Experiment Station, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

    R. A. Young

  2. American Dental Association Health Foundation Research Unit, National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC, 20234, USA

    W. E. Brown

Authors
  1. R. A. Young
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  2. W. E. Brown
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Chemistry, State University of New York, 14214, Buffalo, NY, USA

    G. H. Nancollas

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© 1982 Dr. S. Bernhard, Dahlem Konferenzen, Berlin

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Young, R.A., Brown, W.E. (1982). Structures of Biological Minerals. In: Nancollas, G.H. (eds) Biological Mineralization and Demineralization. Dahlem Workshop Reports, vol 23. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68574-3_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-68574-3_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-68576-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-68574-3

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