Living organisms are made up of chemical substances. An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by normal chemical reactions. Four basic elements, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, make up 96% of an organism's body.
Atoms are the simplest units of elements. Atoms are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons. Different atoms are joined by chemical bonds to form compounds. Compounds are divided into two main types: inorganic and organic compounds.
Inorganic compounds
They do not have a carbon skeleton. Water and minerals are inorganic compounds. Water is the most important inorganic compound. The chemistry of life is the chemistry of water. Without water, life cannot exist. All life processes require water.
Minerals are needed for normal growth and development. Calcium and potassium are minerals needed for bone growth.
Organic compounds
Carbon is the central component of all organic compounds. They are mainly 6 made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur and phosphorus. The major groups of biologically important organic compounds are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, enzymes, hormones, and nucleic acids.