We Are All C.H.N.O.P.S.!!
C.H.N.O.P.S. stands for the six most abundant elements of living organisms. Here is an acrostic to show what each letter means.
C. Carbon
H. Hydrogen
N. Nitrogen
O. Oxygen
P. Phosphorus
S. Sulfur
These are the most important chemical elements whose covalent combinations to make up most biological elements on earth.
C. Carbon
H. Hydrogen
N. Nitrogen
O. Oxygen
P. Phosphorus
S. Sulfur
These are the most important chemical elements whose covalent combinations to make up most biological elements on earth.
Why do I need C.H.N.O.P.S.?
CARBON- Carbon is in all organic molecules.It is the sixth most abundant element in the universe. Carbon is used in the carbon cycle which is essential to the lives of many organisms. The carbon cycle works in this way. Plants have carbon in the form of carbon dioxide. They make carbon based sugar molecules to store energy and to and to promote growth. When another organism eats the plant, they receive carbon and then breath it out in the form of carbon dioxide. Carbon is passed from animals when one animal eats another. When the carbon dioxide is breathed out, plants absorb it from the air and the cycle starts all over.
HYDROGEN- Hydrogen is in water. Humans are made mostly of water, The water is important because it passes nutrients to cells and also carries waste away from cells. Water is also essential in plants.
NITROGEN- Nitrogen is abundant in the air we breath. In fact, 78% of the air we breath is Nitrogen. Bacteria called nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in the soil and put nitrogen into the air. The nitrogen is picked up by plants and carried on to any consumers of the plant. Decomposers break down waste and return nitrogen to compounds. This is all part of the nitrogen cycle.
OXYGEN- About 65% of the composition of the human body is made of oxygen. It is in the air we breath which makes it important to our body. it helps with many cellular processes in our body.
PHOSPHORUS- Phosphorus is received by organisms by breaking down rocks that contain phosphorus. The roots of plants absorb the phosphorus and use them to make molecules. The consumers get phosphorus by consuming plants or any other organisms that have consumed phosphorus.
SULFUR- Sulfur is necessary for all living cells in the body. They can be obtained by consuming plants. Sulfur is found in outer skin and it can also be found in hair.
HYDROGEN- Hydrogen is in water. Humans are made mostly of water, The water is important because it passes nutrients to cells and also carries waste away from cells. Water is also essential in plants.
NITROGEN- Nitrogen is abundant in the air we breath. In fact, 78% of the air we breath is Nitrogen. Bacteria called nitrogen-fixing bacteria live in the soil and put nitrogen into the air. The nitrogen is picked up by plants and carried on to any consumers of the plant. Decomposers break down waste and return nitrogen to compounds. This is all part of the nitrogen cycle.
OXYGEN- About 65% of the composition of the human body is made of oxygen. It is in the air we breath which makes it important to our body. it helps with many cellular processes in our body.
PHOSPHORUS- Phosphorus is received by organisms by breaking down rocks that contain phosphorus. The roots of plants absorb the phosphorus and use them to make molecules. The consumers get phosphorus by consuming plants or any other organisms that have consumed phosphorus.
SULFUR- Sulfur is necessary for all living cells in the body. They can be obtained by consuming plants. Sulfur is found in outer skin and it can also be found in hair.
This is a C.H.N.O.P.S.
