Here's a look at the chemical
composition of the human body, including element abundance and how each
element is used. Elements are listed in order of decreasing abundance,
with the most common element (by mass) listed first. Approximately 96%
of body weight consists of only four elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen,
and nitrogen. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium,
chlorine, and sulfur are macronutrients or elements the body needs in a
significant amount.
1.
Oxygen
By mass, oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body.
If you think about it, this makes sense, since most of the body consists
of water or H
2O. Oxygen accounts for 61-65% of the mass of the human body. Even though there are many more
atoms of hydrogen in your body than oxygen, each oxygen atom is 16 times more massive than a hydrogen atom.
2.
Carbon
All living organisms contain carbon, which forms the basis for
all of the organic molecules in the body. Carbon is the second most
abundant element in the human body, accounting for 18% of body weight.
3.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen accounts for 10% of the mass of the human body.
4.
Nitrogen
Approximately 3% of the mass of the human body is nitrogen.
5.
Calcium
Calcium accounts for 1.5% of human body weight.
6.
Phosphorus
About 1.2% to 1.5% of your body consists of phosphorus.
7.
Potassium
Potassium makes up 0.2% to 0.35% of the adult human body.
8.
Sulfur
Sulfur's abundance is 0.20% to 0.25% in the human body.
9.
Sodium
Approximately 0.10% to 0.15% of your body mass is the element sodium.
10.
Magnesium
The metal magnesium comprises about 0.05% of human body weight.
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