Question

Trace out the differences of elemental analysis done on living things and non-living things.

Answer 1

Part 1:Definition of elemental analysis
Elemental analysis is to determine the quantity of a particular element within a molecule or a material.

Part 2: Elements present in living organisms
In all living systems there are 4 basic elements:carbon,oxygen,nitrogen and hydrogen.

Part 3:Elements present in non-living things
Elements like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen are also found in non-living systems like the Earth’s crust. But the relative % weight of carbon and hydrogen is higher in the living system, than in the non-living system.


Part 4: Tabular representation

Element % weight in humans %weight in Earth’s crust Oxygen (O) 65% 46% Carbon (C) 18% Trace Hydrogen (H) 10% 0.1% Nitrogen (N) 3% Trace Sulphur (S) 0.3% 0.03% Sodium (Na) 0.2% 2.8% Calcium (Ca) 1.5% 3.6% Magnesium (Mg) 0.1% 2.1%

$\begin{array}{cccc}Element& \text{life (humans)}& \text{Atmosphere}& \text{Earth's crust}\\ Oxygen\left(O\right)& \text{65\%}& \text{21\%}& \text{46\%}\\ Carbon\left(C\right)& \text{18\%}& \text{Trace}& \text{Trace}\\ Hydrogen\left(H\right)& \text{10\%}& \text{Trace}& \text{0.1\%}\\ Nitrogen\left(N\right)& \text{3\%}& \text{78\%}& \text{Trace}\\ Sulphur\left(S\right)& \text{0.3\%}& & \text{Trace}\\ Sodium\left(Na\right)& \text{0.2\%}& & \text{0.03\%}\\ Calcium\left(Ca\right)& \text{1.5\%}& & \text{3.6\%}\\ Magnesium\left(Mg\right)& \text{0.1\%}& & \text{2.1\%}\\ Silicon\left(Si\right)& \text{negligible}& & \text{27.7}\end{array}$