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Most common elements in the universe [1]: Hydrogen, Helium, Oxygen, Carbon, Neon, Iron, Nitrogen Most common elements in the human body [2]: Hydrogen, Oxygen,
by yoha 10y ago
Most common elements in the universe [1]: Hydrogen, Helium, Oxygen, Carbon, Neon, Iron, Nitrogen
Most common elements in the human body [2]: Hydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon, Nitrogen
I agree that we can skip helium and neon since those are noble gases, but I do find the lack of iron interesting.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elements https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elem...
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body#Elemental_composition_list https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body#... (look for table, sort per atomic percent)
- code777777 10y agoIndeed. Iron and other heavy elements sink into the core of planets as they're being formed. This leaves less iron on the surface for chemical reactions that might lead to life. However, iron does play an important role in life as we know it, even today. Earth's molten and rotating iron and nickle core is what creates our magnetosphere that shields us--and presumably early life--from deadly solar radiation.
- sangnoir 10y ago> However, iron does play an important role in life as we know it, even today I would have thought the iron in mammal blood would come to mind first, but other aquatic life forms have copper-based blood, so it's not exactly required.