- Humans consist mostly of four elements: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, which form everything from proteins to DNA
- Calcium strengthens bones and teeth, while potassium and sodium ensure our muscles work well
Humans are made of many chemical elements that work together to create our complex bodies. Photo: ShutterstockHumans are made of many chemical elements that work together to create our complex bodies. The elements are like pieces of a puzzle, each playing a unique and essential role in maintaining our health.
At the heart of our biological composition are four elements: oxygen (O), carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and nitrogen (N). These account for 96.6 per cent of our body weight. These four elements work together to form the building blocks of life – they can create everything from proteins to DNA.
You might wonder why our bodies don’t just turn into gas, considering that we are mostly oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen. That is because about 60 per cent of our body consists of water (H2O), which is made of oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
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But these four elements cannot complete the whole puzzle of life. Our bodies require other elements, including non-metal elements such as phosphorus (P), sulphur (S) and chlorine (Cl), and metal elements like potassium (K), sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg).
For example, calcium and phosphorus form a strong foundation for our bones and teeth, while potassium and sodium ensure that our muscles and nerves work well.
Scientists have found that our bodies need 28 different elements to function properly. These are almost one-quarter of the periodic table and are mainly found in the first four periods.
Of these, 11 are essential elements that our bodies need in larger amounts: oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium.
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The remaining 17 are trace elements needed in very small quantities. For example, iron is necessary for producing haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Zinc helps our cells work properly, grow and repair themselves. It also helps our bodies absorb nutrients from food and build proteins.
Surprisingly, our bodies are quite similar to the Earth we live on. The elements that are essential for human life are also found in the Earth’s crust.
The complex interplay of elements in the human body is a testament to how fascinating the natural world is. From the smallest trace elements to the largest building blocks, each piece of the puzzle is vital for creating and sustaining human life.
So the next time you look at the periodic table, remember that it is not just a chart of elements, but a blueprint for life itself.
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