Which element is not among the four major elements by weight?

Prepare for your College Biology Exam 1 with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Test your understanding with detailed explanations and hints to ensure success in your biology exam!

Multiple Choice

Which element is not among the four major elements by weight?

Explanation:
Living matter is dominated by four elements by weight: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Sodium is present only in trace amounts and does not contribute significantly to the overall mass of organisms. Oxygen and hydrogen are major parts of water and organic molecules; carbon forms the backbone of most organic compounds; nitrogen is essential for proteins and nucleic acids. Because sodium occurs in much smaller amounts, it isn’t counted among the four major elements by weight.

Living matter is dominated by four elements by weight: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. Sodium is present only in trace amounts and does not contribute significantly to the overall mass of organisms. Oxygen and hydrogen are major parts of water and organic molecules; carbon forms the backbone of most organic compounds; nitrogen is essential for proteins and nucleic acids. Because sodium occurs in much smaller amounts, it isn’t counted among the four major elements by weight.

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