Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen are the four most common elements in living things. Which statement BEST describes the function of these elements within an organism?
The function of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen within an organism is to serve as the building blocks of biological molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
The function of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen within an organism can be described as follows:
1. Carbon: Carbon is the fundamental element of organic compounds. It is involved in the formation of complex molecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. These organic compounds are the building blocks of life and play essential roles in energy production, structural support, and information transfer within cells.
2. Hydrogen: Hydrogen is present in various biological molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. It contributes to the stability of these compounds, participates in chemical reactions, and aids in the transport of electrons during cellular respiration.
3. Oxygen: Oxygen is crucial for aerobic respiration, the process by which organisms generate energy. It is used as the final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, facilitating the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the energy currency of cells. Oxygen is also present in water molecules and helps in various metabolic reactions.
4. Nitrogen: Nitrogen is an essential component of proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and many other biomolecules. It is required for the synthesis of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Nitrogen also plays a vital role in the nitrogen cycle, which involves the conversion of nitrogen into forms that can be utilized by living organisms.
In summary, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen are integral elements in living organisms, contributing to the structure, energy production, and functioning of cells. Their interactions and roles within biomolecules ensure the proper functioning and survival of organisms.
The four most common elements in living things - carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen - have various essential functions within an organism. The BEST statement describing their functions is as follows:
1. Carbon: Carbon is the backbone of organic molecules, forming strong bonds with itself and other atoms. It is the primary element involved in building complex biological molecules, such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
2. Hydrogen: Hydrogen plays a crucial role in biological reactions and acts as a versatile bond-forming element. It contributes to maintaining pH balance, facilitating energy transfer in metabolic reactions (as in ATP molecules), and forms hydrogen bonds which help stabilize the structure of proteins and nucleic acids.
3. Oxygen: Oxygen is vital for cellular respiration, the process by which organisms extract energy from glucose to produce ATP. It serves as a final electron acceptor in the electron transport chain, allowing aerobic organisms to generate energy efficiently. Oxygen is also a component of water, which is essential for various biological processes.
4. Nitrogen: Nitrogen is a key element in amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. It is also present in nucleotides, which form the basis of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. Nitrogen is required for the synthesis of various important molecules, including enzymes, hormones, and neurotransmitters.
In summary, these four elements play critical roles in the formation of organic molecules, energy transfer, maintenance of pH balance, support of metabolic reactions, and synthesis of essential biological compounds within an organism.