Which element is the most numerous in the human body?

Prepare for the HESI A2 Science Test with focused study materials. Enhance your understanding of biology, chemistry, anatomy, and physiology with our quizzes, complete with hints and thorough explanations. Get exam ready now!

Hydrogen is indeed the most abundant element by quantity in the human body. It is a key component of water, which makes up a significant portion of the body's mass. Additionally, hydrogen is involved in numerous biochemical reactions and the formation of organic compounds, as it bonds with carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen to form the molecules that are crucial for life, like DNA, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates.

While oxygen is also prevalent in the body, primarily due to its presence in water and many organic compounds, hydrogen's sheer number of atoms makes it more numerous overall. Carbon, while foundational to organic chemistry and present in almost all biological molecules, is less abundant than hydrogen in terms of atom count. Nitrogen, existing primarily in proteins and nucleic acids, is present in lower quantities compared to hydrogen. Understanding these relationships highlights the fundamental roles these elements play in biological processes.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy