Ninety-six percent of all living matter is composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen. We need these elements to live. Each element consists of atoms, subatomic particles such as protons, neutrons, and electrons. Each elements differ in their number of subatomic particles, resulting in different atomic number and atomic weight. Isotopes differ in the amount of neutrons the element contains. Bonds are also important because those are what holds the elements together; nonpolar and polar covalent bonds give elements a negative or positive attraction, due from their electronegativity attraction from electrons. Water is the solvent of life. Six properties of water are crucial to our biosphere.
Carbon atoms and carbon skeletons are crucial to the formation and diversity of organic molecules. Furthermore, carboyhydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids each have their own unique structures that determine their roles. Carbohydrates are used for fuel and building materials, proteins for structural support, storage, movement, and defense. The most important protein is an enzyme which accelerates chemical reactions within the cell. Lipids are hydrophobic molecules and nucleic acids such as RNA and DNA transmit hereditary information within the cell.
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