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Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon and Hydrogen constitute more than 90% of the atoms in living organisms.
Moving up the Periodic Table increases electron attraction to the nucleus because of a small atomic radius. When electronegativity is below 1.5 strong covalent bonds can be formed.
N and O can also be hydrogen bond donors and acceptors so they can create weak bonds important for things such as the DNA double helix or lipids that need to form and reform.
C and N can form multiple bonds and therefore make long chains.
-Lauren Shartell
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoCarbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen are all found in the majority of biological molecules, with hydrogen and carbon being by far the most abundant. For example, a typical amino acid (the units that make up proteins) will contain between 2 and 11 carbon atoms, 2 and 4 oxygen atoms, 1 and 4 nitrogen atoms, and between 5 and 14 hydrogen atoms (as well as an occasional sulphur atom). A typical protein will be made of about 500 of these amino acids, but only two or three other atoms (such as iron, magnesium or molybdenum) included in the entire protein. Likewise, DNA has many carbon (~13), hydrogen (~12), nitrogen (~5) and oxygen (~6) atoms included in every nucleotide, but only one phosphorous atom per nucleotide, and nothing else. With 6.6 billion nucleotides (3.3 billion base pairs) per cell, that soon adds up. The other major component of cells, the cell membranes, is also made largely of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, with some nitrogen. Sulphur, phosphorous and iron could be considered the next three major atoms, but are far less common.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agooxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen.
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Which elements are found in significant amounts in living organisms?
The predominant elements in living organisms are the four CHON elements; Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.
What does the acronym CHON stand for in science?
"CHON" is an acronym that stands for the four most common elements in living organisms. The four elements are: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Is molecule an organism?
Organic molecules are substances found in living things, the four main classes are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.The original definition of organic chemicals were ones that could only be made by living things (organisms, thus the name) never in a lab. Then chemists gradually learned how to make a few of them. The definition was changed to complicated compounds containing the element carbon. This usually requires a minimum of 2 carbon atoms per molecule. Now we can make many of them in industrial quantities. An organic molecule are built around chains of carbon atoms and are the molecules of life. The four main groups of organic molecules are proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates.
How many atoms are in aluminum bromine?
four atoms in AlBr3
How many atoms in HCLO2?
There are four atoms in one of these molecules.
List four elements most abundant in organisms?
Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorous.
What are four properties needed in water for living organisms?
The four properties needed in water for living organisms is peanuts,ice-cream,dog food and shoes.
Which are the four abundant elements in living cells?
carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogenAlthough all of these elements are found in living cells, the most abundant are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen (for carbohydrates and lipids) and nitrogen (for proteins and nucleic acids).
What are the four living organic compounds found in living organisms?
carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins
What four things do living organisms need to live?
Air,Food,Water
What are the four most common elements in living matter?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen
Four types of biochemicals in living organisms?
Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids, Carbohydrates
What are the four main types of organic compounds common to living organisms?
ProteinsCarbohydratesLipidsNucleic Acids
Describe four agent of erodingthese is the fastest The slowest?
Water,oxygen, living organisms and acid rain are the four agents of eroding.
What is a C3 and C4 or CAM organisms?
A c3 organism has three carbon atoms such as wheat, rice, and soybeans. A c4 organism has four carbon atoms such as corn, sorghum, millet, and sugarcane.
Which elements are found in significant amounts in living organisms?
The predominant elements in living organisms are the four CHON elements; Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen.
What are the four levels of organizitation in living things sequential order?
Answerstrings--> quarks--> nucleons and electrons--> atoms--> molecules--> organelles--> cells--> tissues--> organs--> organ systems--> organisms--> populations--> communities--> ecosystems --> biosphere Generally the answer is the bolded part, but it can be expanded as above.
