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Multiple Choice
Which four kinds of atoms are most abundant in the human body?
A
Sodium (Na), Chlorine (Cl), Magnesium (Mg), and Iron (Fe)
B
Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and Sulfur (S)
C
Hydrogen (H), Helium (He), Carbon (C), and Neon (Ne)
D
Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), and Nitrogen (N)
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the context of the question. The problem is asking about the most abundant types of atoms in the human body, which are essential for life and biochemical processes.
Step 2: Recall that the human body is primarily composed of molecules like water (H₂O), proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. These molecules are built from specific atoms that are most abundant.
Step 3: Identify the key atoms involved in these molecules. Water is composed of hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O). Proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids are primarily composed of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N).
Step 4: Eliminate the incorrect options by comparing them to the known composition of the human body. For example, sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) are present in trace amounts but are not the most abundant. Similarly, helium (He) and neon (Ne) are noble gases and do not play a significant role in the human body.
Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N), as these atoms are the building blocks of the major biomolecules in the human body.