Functions of bioelements in living beings

Functions of bioelements in living beings

1. Carbon

   • Forms many different kinds of bonds
     • Is the backbone of macromolecules and one of the building blocks of life
   • Makes up organic compounds
   • Combined with oxygen and glucose in animals produces carbon dioxide, water and energy

2. Hydrogen

   • Is always present in organic molecules
   • Is used quote often in enzyme reactions
   • Creates proton gradients as a way to store/generate energy
   • Is used in hydrochloric acid and others as a proton source for digestion

3. Oxygen

   • Is necessary for cells in order to oxidize organic compounds
   • Necessary for respiration process
   • Essential to human life
   • is used medically for patients who require mechanical ventilation
     • Oxygen therapy is used as a medical treatment

4. Sulfur

   • Makes up part of the amino acids methionine and cysteine
   • Is essencIaL in the growth of all living things
   • Is a key ingredient in the formation of chlorophyll
   • Is a building block of proteins, enzymes and vitamins
   • s a remarkable mineral for arthritis

5. Nitrogen

   • Makes up amino acids
   • Plants and algae convert it into organic molecules
   • Nitrites can be converted into nitrosamines, a class of nitrogen compounds known to cause cancer
   • Component of amino acids and urea
   • Organic nitrogen can enter septic systems as bodily wastes, discarded food material, or as components of cleaning agents

6. Phosphorous

   • Forms part of the nucleotides
   • Is part of our bones and teeth
   • Captures energy from metabolic reaction
   • In some animals it forms part of their shells
   • Is found in the phospholipids that make up most of the structure of the cell membrane, which helps maintain the pH of the cell