When a human or animal consumes food, which of the following elements act as a nutritive element?
Carbon
The living organisms require numerous elements to regulate their biological activities and for the formation of protoplasm. These elements are called the nutritive elements. Some elements such as carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, sodium, potassium are the main components of protoplasm and they are required in large quantities whereas the elements such as chlorine, zinc and boron are needed for life in a very small quantity.