Difference between revisions of "Essential elements"
m (error in text) |
|||
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
[[Category:Chemistry]] | [[Category:Chemistry]] | ||
| − | + | [[Category:Life Support (Food Supply)]] | |
[[Category:Life Support (Overall)]] | [[Category:Life Support (Overall)]] | ||
{{Stub}} | {{Stub}} | ||
Revision as of 12:46, 30 January 2007
In the Human Body
| Element | Percent by Mass* | |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | 65 | |
| Carbon | 18 | |
| Hydrogen | 10 | |
| Nitrogen | 3 | |
| Calcium | 1.6 | |
| Phosphorus | 1.2 | |
| Potassium | 0.2 | |
| Sulfur | 0.2 | |
| Chlorine | 0.2 | |
| Sodium | 0.1 | |
| Magnesium | 0.05 | |
| Iron | Less than 0.05 | |
| Cobalt | Less than 0.05 | |
| Copper | Less than 0.05 | |
| Zinc | Less than 0.05 | |
| Iodine | Less than 0.05 | |
| Selenium | Less than 0.01 | |
| Flourine | Less than 0.01 |
Percent by mass given in grams present in a 100 gram sample*
Elements of special interest are the trace elements, including iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iodine (I), and cobalt (Co). Together these elements make up about 0.1 percent of the body's mass. They are necessary for biological functions such as defense against disease, growth, and transport of oxygen for metabolism. The human body has a delicate balance of these elements and too much or too little over an extended period of time can lead to serious illness, retardation, or even death.
| This article is a stub. You can help Lunarpedia by expanding it or sorting it into the correct stub subcategory. |
