Chemical Basis of Life: Human Body Composition

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen make up 96.2% of the mass of the human body.

Trace elements are essential for body function but are required in smaller amounts than major elements.

Too much copper can cause liver damage and hyperactivity, and too much iron can damage the heart and liver.

Lack of energy, easy fatigue, and shortness of breath are symptoms that might indicate iron deficiency.

Biomolecules are organic molecules essential for the maintenance and metabolic processes of living organisms.

Salts are chemical compounds consisting of positively charged cations and negatively charged anions, resulting in a substance with no net electric charge.

Water is essential for life as a universal solvent , for many chemical reactions, for digestion, and for the proper circulation of blood.

Monosaccharides are the simplest type of carbohydrate, including glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Disaccharides are double sugars formed from two monosaccharides, such as lactose, maltose, and sucrose.

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates like cellulose, starch, and glycogen used for structure and energy storage.

Proteins act as enzymes or catalysts for chemical reactions in cells and are composed of oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, and nitrogen.

Fibrous proteins, like collagen, are arranged parallel to produce long fibers or sheets, providing structural support.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in vertebrates, found in bones, cartilage, and skin, providing structural support.

Globular proteins are tightly folded into spherical shapes and include albumins found in animal cells, blood serum, milk, and eggs.

Muscle proteins like actin and myosin are responsible for muscle contraction, enabling movement.