question_answer 16)

It is said that elemental composition of living organisms and that of inanimate objects (like earth's crust) are similar in the sense that all the major elements are present in both. Then what would be the difference between these two groups? Choose a correct answer from among the following. (a) Living organisms have more gold in them than inanimate objects (b) Living organisms have more water in their body than inanimate objects (c) Living organisms have more carbon/ oxygen and hydrogen per unit mass thaninanimate objects (d) Living organisms have more calcium in them than inanimate objects

Answer:

                (c) All living organisms and non-living matter in our biosphere are made of similarelements and compounds. Several researches performed on plants, animals andmicrobes confirmed that a relative abundance of organic compound i.e., carbon,hydrogen and oxygen in living organisms than in the earth's crust (non-living matter). Whereas, the percent composition of other inorganic molecules like calcium and goldis more in earth's crust as compared to living matter. Representation of inorganic constituents of lining tissues.

Element	% Weight in
	Earth?s Crust	Human Body
Hydrogen (H)	0.14	0.5
Carbon (C)	0.03	18.5
Oxygen (O)	46.6	65.0
Calcium (Ca)	3.6	1.5