What is the body made of? (2024)

The composition of the human body contains around 20 different elements

What is the body made of? (1)

The human body contains around 20 different elements, mostly made inside ancient stars. If you deconstructed an 80kg human into atoms, you would get about the following amounts of the different elements:

Oxygen – 52kg

This element makes up more than half the mass of your body but only a quarter of its atoms.

Carbon – 14.4kg

Advertisem*nt

The most important structural element, and the reason we are known as carbon-based life forms. About 12 per cent of your body’s atoms are carbon.

Hydrogen – 8kg

The hydrogen atoms in your body were formed in the Big Bang. All the others were made inside a star long ago and were flung into space by a supernova explosion. So though you may have heard that we are all stardust, that isn’t strictly true.

Nitrogen – 2.4kg

The four most abundant elements in the human body – hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen – account for more than 99 per cent of the atoms inside you. They are found throughout your body, mostly as water but also as components of biomolecules such as proteins, fats, DNA and carbohydrates.

Calcium – 1.12kg

Phosphorus – 880g

Sulphur – 200g

Potassium – 200g

Sodium – 120g

Chlorine – 120g

Magnesium – 40g

Magnesium is a key component of superoxide dismutase, one of the most important detoxification enzymes.

Iron – 4.8g

Found in haem, the oxygen-carrying part of the haemoglobin molecule inside red blood cells

Fluorine – 3.0g

Hardens the teeth, though fluorine is not considered essential to life.

Zinc – 2.6 g

Strontium – 0.37g

Strontium is found almost exclusively in bones, where it may have a benefcial effect on growth and density.

Iodine0.0128 g

Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormone thyroxine. Iodine is the heaviest element required by the human body.

Copper – 0.08g

Copper is a component of many enzymes. Copper deficiency causes neurological and blood disorders.

Manganese – 0.0136 g

Molybdenum – 0.0104 g

What is the body made of? (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kelle Weber

Last Updated:

Views: 5516

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kelle Weber

Birthday: 2000-08-05

Address: 6796 Juan Square, Markfort, MN 58988

Phone: +8215934114615

Job: Hospitality Director

Hobby: tabletop games, Foreign language learning, Leather crafting, Horseback riding, Swimming, Knapping, Handball

Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.