The four elements that make up 96% of the body are?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The four elements that make up 96% of the human body are oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen.
Explanation
The human body is made up of many elements, but four of them account for the vast majority of its mass. These are oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Together, they make up about 96% of the body’s total weight.
Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body, making up around 65%. Most of it is found in water molecules, which are present in nearly every cell. Oxygen is also vital for cellular respiration, a process that generates energy by breaking down glucose.
Carbon makes up about 18% of the body. It is the backbone of all organic molecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. Carbon atoms form stable bonds with many elements, allowing for the complexity of life and the structure of DNA, enzymes, and cell membranes.
Hydrogen accounts for about 10% of the body’s mass. Like oxygen, it is a key part of water. It also plays a role in maintaining pH balance and is involved in many chemical reactions in the body.
Nitrogen makes up about 3%. It is a vital part of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Nitrogen is also found in nucleic acids like DNA and RNA, which carry genetic information.
Though other elements such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and iron are important for specific functions like bone structure and nerve transmission, they are present in much smaller amounts. The dominance of oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen highlights their essential roles in the chemistry of life, from the formation of cells to energy production. Understanding these four elements helps in grasping how the body functions at the molecular level.
