Chemical properties of the main biogenic elements

The main biogenic elements include carbon, oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. These elements combine to form many diverse molecules. The following table shows the basic representation of elements in the human body per dry weight.

Basic representation of elements in the human body per dry weight

Element	Representation	Element	Representation
Carbon	50 %	Potassium	1 %
Oxygen	20 %	Sulfur	0,8 %
Hydrogen	10 %	Sodium	0,4 %
Nitrogen	8,5 %	Chlorine	0,4 %
Calcium	4 %	Magnesium	0,1 %
Phosphorus	2,5 %	Iron	0,01 %
		Manganese	0,001 %
		Iodine	0,00005 %

• Carbon is the main building block of living organisms.
• Oxygen is an important building block of living organisms (contained in alcohols, phenols, aldehydes, ketones and others). It ensures breathing.
• Hydrogen is an important building block of practically all organic compounds. It is present in all tissues of living organisms.
• Nitrogen is part of many substances contained in the body. For all of them, let's name amino acids, which contain at least one amino (-NH₂) and carboxyl (-COOH) group.
• Calcium is significantly involved in the construction of solid parts of the body (teeth, bones). It can also be found in muscles, blood and other body tissues.
• Phosphorus, like calcium, although to a lesser extent, is contained in teeth and bones. It forms an important component of organic molecules − DNA, RNA, energy carriers (ADP, ATP) and is also part of most fats.

Other important biogenic elements are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, iron, manganese and iodine.

Links

Related articles

• Oxygen
• Trace elements

Used literatury

• MURRAY, Robert K. Harperova biochemie. 2. vydání. Jinočany : H&H, 2002. 871 s. s. 6-7. ISBN 80-7319-013-3.