Minerals such as calcium function as a

• A. Cofactor
• B. Metalloenzyme
• C. Hormone
• D. Antioxidant

Answer: (B)

Minerals such as calcium function as cofactors for enzymes. A cofactor is a nonprotein helper that enables enzymes to carry out their chemical reactions by stabilizing charges, aiding substrate binding, or participating directly in catalysis. Calcium specifically acts in several important ways, for example in the blood-clotting cascade where calcium ions help assemble and orient clotting factors on membranes, and in intracellular signaling where calcium modulates enzyme activity and other processes.

The term metalloenzyme refers to an enzyme that contains a metal ion as part of its own structure. The mineral isn’t the enzyme itself; it’s a component that enables the enzyme to work in many cases. So minerals are best described as cofactors that assist enzyme function.