Answer to Question #166008 in Cell Biology for Maria

Question

list the six elements necessary for examples of three molecules that contain those elements.

Answer 1

All living things have six basic elements in common: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur, which are referred to as chemicals of life. The molecules that they form are for example carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

• Carbohydrates are compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen and oxygen occur in the ratio of 2:1 as in water.
• Lipids are fats and oils. Fats are solid at room temperature while oils are liquid. They are made up of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The structural units of lipids are fatty acids and glycerol.
• Proteins are compounds which are made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sometimes sulfur and phosphorus