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Chapter 10: Problem 7

What is the most abundant element in the universe? In the human body?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen, and in the human body, it is oxygen.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Most Abundant Element in the Universe

The most abundant element in the universe is determined by the composition of stars and interstellar matter. Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element in the universe as it makes up about 75% of its elemental mass.
02

Identify the Most Abundant Element in the Human Body

The composition of the human body by weight shows that certain elements are more prevalent. Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body, making up approximately 65% of its mass mainly as part of water and organic molecules.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Hydrogen in the Universe
Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe primarily because it is the simplest element with just one proton and one electron. Its origin traces back to the Big Bang, where the high temperatures allowed the formation of hydrogen atoms.
When we look at stars, we are essentially looking at massive hydrogen reactors.
  • Stars, including our Sun, generate energy by fusing hydrogen into helium in a process called nuclear fusion. This releases a vast amount of energy, fueling the stars.
  • Interstellar matter, the substance that exists in the space between the stars, primarily consists of hydrogen.
Because of its abundance, hydrogen is crucial to the chemical evolution of the cosmos, forming the building blocks for other elements through nuclear reactions within stars.
Oxygen in the Human Body
Oxygen is the most abundant element in the human body due to its role in various biological molecules and processes. In fact, it makes up about 65% of the human body by mass.
Most of this oxygen is found in water (H2O), which constitutes around 60% of the human body. Here鈥檚 why oxygen is so crucial:
  • Cells utilize oxygen in cellular respiration to convert glucose into energy. Without oxygen, our cells wouldn't be able to produce the energy required to function.
  • Oxygen is also a critical component of DNA and various proteins, further highlighting its importance in the body.
In addition to being a major part of water, oxygen atoms are found in other essential biomolecules like carbohydrates, fats, and nucleic acids, making it indispensable to life.
Elemental Composition
Elemental composition refers to the proportion of different elements making up a substance. In discussing the universe or the human body, this concept helps us understand what fundamental building blocks are most prevalent.
  • The most abundant element in the universe is hydrogen, making up roughly 75% of the elemental mass. Helium follows it, forming about 24%.
  • In terms of the human body, oxygen ranks first by contributing 65% to the body mass, followed by carbon, which constitutes about 18%, and hydrogen (around 10%).
Understanding elemental composition is vital, as it provides insight into both the structure and function of different systems, from the vast cosmos to our complex bodies.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The ionization energies of \(\mathrm{Li}, \mathrm{Na}, \mathrm{K}, \mathrm{Rb},\) and \(\mathrm{Cs}\) are respectively \(5.4,5.1,4.3,4.2,\) and \(3.9 \mathrm{eV} .\) All are in Group 1 of the periodic table. Explain the decrease in ionization energy with increasing atomic number in this group.

Heating is a physical process. When mercuric oxide is heated, it becomes mercury and oxygen. Does this mean that mercuric oxide is a mixture rather than a compound?

How does the law of definite proportions help to distinguish between a compound of certain elements and a mixture of the same elements?

The rare element selenium has the following arrangement of electrons: 2 in the first shell, 8 in the second, 18 in the third, and 6 in the fourth. Would you expect selenium to be a metal or a nonmetal?

When nitroglycerin \(\left[\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{5}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{3}\right]\) explodes carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrogen, and another substance are produced. What is the other substance? Give the equation of the process. (Hint: Start with four nitroglycerin molecules.)
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