Elements Found in Living Things

Living organisms are characterized by several common elements and features. These elements are essential for the structure, function, and maintenance of life. Here are some key elements found in living organisms:

1. Carbon (C): Carbon is a fundamental building block of life and is found in all organic molecules, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

2. Hydrogen (H): Hydrogen is a component of water (H2O) and is also present in various organic molecules.

3. Oxygen (O): Oxygen is vital for cellular respiration, where organisms generate energy from nutrients. It is a component of water and is also found in organic molecules.

4. Nitrogen (N): Nitrogen is a crucial element in amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and is also a component of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).

5. Phosphorus (P): Phosphorus is a key component of nucleic acids and is also present in ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which stores and transfers energy within cells.

6. Sulfur (S): Sulfur is found in certain amino acids, contributing to the structure of proteins.

Color the Diagram to Match the Percentages of Each Element

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Other Resources

Acids and Bases - basic coloring showing how water dissociates into ions, pH scale

Biomolecules Boxing - students make boxes showing the four biomolecules of life and use the boxes to practice structure and functions

Organic Compounds - concept map, students fill in terms related to organic chemistry (carbohydrates, nucleotides..etc