▁also ▁known ▁as ▁electro ly tes , ▁essential ▁for ▁the ▁elect rical ▁activity ▁needed ▁to ▁support ▁mus cle ▁contra ctions ▁and ▁neur on ▁activation . ▁They ▁contribute ▁to ▁os m otic ▁pressure ▁of ▁body ▁flu ids ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁performing ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁other ▁important ▁functions . ▁Below ▁is ▁a ▁list ▁of ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁most ▁important ▁ ions ▁for ▁living ▁things ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁examples ▁of ▁their ▁functions : ▁▁ ▁Ca 2 + cal ci um ▁ ions ▁are ▁a ▁component ▁of ▁b ones ▁and ▁teeth . ▁They ▁also ▁function ▁as ▁bi ological ▁mess engers , ▁as ▁do ▁most ▁of ▁the ▁ ions ▁listed ▁below . ▁See ▁hyp ocal ca emia ▁Z n 2 + ▁- ▁z inc ▁ ions ▁are ▁found ▁in ▁very ▁small ▁concentr ations ▁in ▁the ▁body , ▁and ▁their ▁main ▁purpose ▁is ▁that ▁of ▁an ▁ant io x id ant ; ▁the ▁z inc ▁ ions ▁act ▁as ▁ant io x id ants ▁both ▁generally ▁and ▁for ▁li ver ▁specific ▁pro ox id ants . ▁Z inc ▁ ions ▁can ▁also ▁act ▁as ▁an ▁ant io x id ant - like ▁stabil izer ▁for ▁some ▁macro - m ole cules ▁which ▁bind ▁z inc ▁ ions ▁with ▁high ▁aff inity , ▁especially ▁in ▁c yst e ine - rich ▁binding ▁sites . ▁These ▁binding ▁sites ▁use ▁these ▁z inc ▁ ions ▁as ▁a ▁stabil izer ▁to ▁protein ▁fol ds , ▁making ▁these ▁protein ▁mot ifs ▁more ▁rig id ▁in ▁structure . ▁These ▁structures ▁include ▁z inc ▁fingers ,