The four elements that make up the bulk of all living things are:

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Consider the question: 'The four elements that make up the bulk of all living things are:' This asks us to identify the primary elements that constitute the majority of biomolecules in organisms.
Option 1: 'Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen' This is the standard quartet often cited as the most abundant elements in living matter (often referred to as CHON). They form the backbone of organic molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. This answer aligns with fundamental biology knowledge.
Option 2: 'Hydrogen, nitrogen, sodium, and carbon' While hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon are indeed major elements, sodium is a trace or electrolyte with much lower abundance in organic matter, not part of the bulk composition. This makes the option inaccurate as a description of the four primary elements.
Option 3: 'Oxygen, calcium, iron, and nitrogen' Although oxygen and nitrogen are major elements, calcium and iron are present primarily as minerals or cofactors in smaller amounts, not among the bulk majority of living matter. This combination does not reflect the overall elemental composition of organisms.
Option 4: 'Carbon, hydrogen, iron, and calcium' Carbon and hydrogen are essential, but iron and calcium are not among the four most abundant elements in living organisms; they appear in specific roles (e.g., iron in proteins like hemoglobin, calcium in bones and signaling) but not as bulk constituents. Therefore, this option is not correct as a blanket statement about the major elements.

NUTR 200 A Units 1 & 2 Quiz

The four elements that make up the bulk of all living things are:

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