How does the elemental composition of living tissues compare to non-living matter?
How does the elemental composition of living tissues compare to non-living matter?
It is significantly different
It is similar when analyzed qualitatively
It is completely different
It is only similar for some elements
Solution
The elemental composition of living tissues and non-living matter appears to be similar when analyzed qualitatively, but a closer examination reveals that the relative abundance of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen is higher in living systems.