Which of the following includes all the major elements of life?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks: Which of the following includes all the major elements of life?

First, note that the answer options list is missing in the data provided, so we only have a single candidate to evaluate: "Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Sulphur". In biology, the phrase 'major elements of life' typically refers to the CHNOPS elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, and Sulfur. These six elements are the fundamental building blocks for organic molecules and biological systems.

Option candidate analysis:
- Oxygen: Essential as a major element; part of water, most organic molecules, and cellular respiration. Its presence is crucial for life as we know it.
- Carbon: Central to all organic chemistry; the backbone of vast majority of biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids).
- Hydrogen: Major component of water and organic molecules; participates in a wide range of biochemical reactions and energy transfer processes.
- Nitrogen: Vital for amino acids, nucleotides, and many cofactors; without nitrogen, proteins and DNA/RNA could not be formed in living organisms.
- Phosphorus: Key in nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) and energy carriers (ATP); also important in cell membranes (phospholipids).
- Sulfur: Present in some amino acids (cysteine, methionine) and coenzymes; contributes to protein structure via disulfide bonds.

Collectively, these six elements account for the majority of the mass and function of biological macromolecules. The listed elements correspond to the conventional CHNOPS set, with minor spelling variations: Phosphorous/Phosphorus and Sulphur/Sulfur are just alternate spellings used in different varieties of English.

Potential caveats: While CHNOPS covers the major framework, many texts also emphasize additional trace elements that are essential in smaller amounts for some organisms (e.g., iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, manganese, iodine, etc.). However, the core list of major elements remains CHNOPS.

In summary, the candidate set Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Sulphur aligns with the widely accepted CHNOPS group of major life elements, making it the correct representation among typical answer choices. The absence of other options prevents comparison, but the chosen set accurately reflects the principal constituents of biomolecules.

2025 T1 DP DPST1051 BLSC1342 Molecules, Cells & Genes

Which of the following includes all the major elements of life?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Which of the following is a major element of life?

Which of the following includes all the major elements of life?

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

Life as we know it requires what four elements?

All living organisms contain carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

What are the six most fundamental elements in the molecular building blocks of life?

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

Economic stress and unpredictable times have resulted in a booming industry for self-help products

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler