1. The Elements of Life
Organic Chemistry

2. Using the periodic table, write down the seven elements you think are most common in the human body and the Earth’s crust. This is a hypothesis so there are no wrong answers.
Human Body
Earth’s crust 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

3. How many did you have on your list? Correct them if they are incorrect.
Human Body
Earth’s crust
1. oxygen (O) %
1. oxygen (O) %
2. carbon (C) %
2. silicon (Si) %
3. hydrogen (H) %
3. aluminum (Al) %
4. nitrogen (N) %
4. iron (Fe) %
5. calcium (Ca) %
5. calcium (Ca) %
6. potassium (K) %
6. sodium (Na) %
7. sulfur (S) %
7. potassium (K) %

4. Human Body

5. The Human Body

6. Earth’s Crust

7. All matter on Earth is made up of elements
Biotic (living) organisms are made mostly of 6 elements
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorous
Nitrogen
Sulfur
SPONCH

8. C Carbon 6 Carbon 12.011 carbon is key to life and is present in
all organic compounds
Carbon is found free in nature in
three forms:
graphite
coal
diamond

9. Carbon Makes up 18.5% of the human body
Carbon is in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide
Dissolved in all natural water
Component of many rocks like limestone
Makes up fossil fuels
It is found in abundance in the sun,
stars, comets, and atmospheres of
most planets.
Modern Model
Bohr Model

10. Carbon Can have 4 different bonds with other elements straight chains
branched chains
rings
ring
straight chain
branched chain

11. Carbon
Find carbon on the periodic table and color it yellow

12. H Hydrogen 1 Hydrogen 1.008 Lightest element
Only 1 proton in the nucleus
Most abundant element in the universe
Make up 75% of the mass of the universe
In the atmosphere
Part of water

13. Hydrogen Makes up 9.5% of the human body
Hydrogen is a major component of the sun and stars
Jupiter is made mostly of hydrogen
Hydrogen can be explosive
The Hindenburg

14. Hydrogen
Find hydrogen on the periodic table and color it yellow

15. Nitrogen 7 N
14.007
Nitrogen
nitrogen makes up 70% of the Earth’s atmosphere
usually a colorless, odorless gas
major part of proteins
used to make fertilizers
plants need nitrogen to stay healthy

16. Nitrogen
The nitrogen cycle is very important for life

17. Nitrogen
Find nitrogen on the periodic table and color it yellow

18. O Oxygen 8 Oxygen 15.999 necessary for life on Earth
around 21% of the atmosphere is oxygen
component of water
makes up 65% of the human body
Third most abundant element in the sun

19. Oxygen
Find oxygen on the periodic table and color it yellow

20. P Phosphorus 15 30.974 Phosphorus needed to make DNA
part of bones and teeth
there are several types
white, red, and black
It combusts spontaneously in air
part of ATP (what cells use for energy)

21. Phosphorus Cycle

22. Phosphorus
Find phosphorous on the periodic table and color it yellow

23. S Sulfur 16 32.066 Sulfur pale yellow, odorless solid
minor part of fats, body fluids and skeletal minerals
key component of proteins
dangerous if inhaled as hydrogen sulfide

24. Sulfur Found in meteorites, volcanoes, hot springs
sulfur dioxide is part of acid rain

25. Sulfur
Find sulfur on the periodic table and color it yellow

26. Organic Elements