Which Electrons move about the nucleus of an atom in the same way as which of the following options? Insects fly around a bright lamp at night. Boats cross a lake. Birds migrate to a new winter home. Cars are parked along the sides of a street. People pass each other along a sidewalk. Which one of the following is not a trace element in the human body? Fluorine a.Zinc b.Iodine c.Nitrogen d.Manganese
The correct answer and explanation is:
The electrons in an atom move about the nucleus in a manner similar to how boats cross a lake. This analogy works because both the electrons and boats travel in paths that are influenced by forces (such as attraction to the nucleus for electrons or currents for boats) but are not directly bound to a fixed location. Just as boats may drift around but are not confined to a single spot, electrons exist in orbitals and are not constrained to one position around the nucleus.
Regarding the second part of the question, the element that is not a trace element in the human body is Nitrogen. While fluorine, zinc, iodine, and manganese are considered trace elements, nitrogen is a major element in the human body and is found in large quantities, primarily in proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular structures. Nitrogen is a crucial component of amino acids and DNA/RNA, and it is not classified as a trace element, which are elements found in much smaller amounts in the body, typically less than 0.01% by mass.
Trace elements like fluorine, zinc, iodine, and manganese play specific roles in the body’s biochemical processes. For example:
- Fluorine is involved in bone and dental health, helping to prevent tooth decay.
- Zinc is a critical part of enzymes involved in immune function, wound healing, and protein synthesis.
- Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production, which regulates metabolism.
- Manganese is involved in bone formation, blood clotting, and the metabolism of nutrients.
Nitrogen, on the other hand, is essential in much larger quantities for the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids. It makes up about 3% of the human body by mass, mainly in the form of amino acids and other nitrogen-containing molecules. Therefore, nitrogen is not categorized as a trace element.