What Are Elements - Elements Of The Human Body - What Is The Body Made Of - Human Body Composition

Summary

This video explains the fundamental elements that make up the human body. It begins by defining elements as substances that cannot be chemically broken down and highlights key examples like oxygen and carbon. The video discusses the significance of atomic numbers and isotopes, and it details the 26 elements found in the human body. Among these, four elements—oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen—comprise 96% of the body's material. The video also distinguishes between major and trace elements, showing their distribution and significance in the body.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Elements are pure substances that cannot be chemically broken down into simpler substances.
• 🔍 There are over a hundred different elements, such as oxygen and carbon, which are the building blocks of matter.
• ⚛️ Elements are distinguished by the number of protons in their atomic nucleus, which is also known as the atomic number.
• 📊 The periodic table organizes elements by their atomic number and provides symbols and other identifying information.
• 📘 For example, carbon is represented by the symbol 'C' and has an atomic number of 6, indicating it has 6 protons in its nucleus.
• 🧬 The atomic mass or mass number of an element represents the sum of protons and neutrons in its nucleus.
• 🔎 Isotopes are variants of an element with different numbers of neutrons, leading to variations in atomic mass.
• 💁‍♂️ The human body contains 26 different elements, with oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen making up approximately 96% of the body's material.
• 🌟 Out of the 26 elements, 11 are considered major elements, highlighted in light blue on the periodic table shown.
• 🔍 The remaining 15 elements are trace elements, depicted in peach on the table, and are present in smaller quantities in the body.
• 📈 A chart is provided that lists both major and trace elements in the human body, along with their symbols and their proportional contribution to body weight.

Q & A

What are elements?

Elements are substances that cannot be chemically broken down into simpler substances.

How many different elements are there?

There are over a hundred different elements.

What distinguishes one element from another?

Elements differ based on the number of protons in their nucleus.

What does the atomic number of an element represent?

The atomic number represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of that element.

Can an element have atoms with different numbers of neutrons?

Yes, some atoms of an element can have different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus. These variations are called isotopes.

What is the significance of the atomic mass shown for an element?

The atomic mass, or mass number, of an element is equal to the number of protons and the average number of neutrons in the nucleus. It may represent a range due to the presence of different isotopes.

How many elements are present in the human body?

There are a total of 26 elements present in the human body.

Which four elements make up about 96% of the material in the human body?

Oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen make up about 96% of the material in the human body.

What is the difference between major elements and trace elements in the human body?

The 11 major elements are essential and present in larger quantities, while the 15 trace elements are present in smaller amounts but still important for bodily functions.

Why do some elements in the periodic table have ranges for their atomic mass?

Some elements have ranges for their atomic mass due to the presence of isotopes, which are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons.