The order of the components in E. coli during balanced exponential growth from greatest to least in terms of percentage of total cellular weight is:
Water: Approximately 70-90% of the weight of a bacterial cell is made up of water.
Proteins: Proteins are an essential component of a bacterial cell and make up a significant portion of the total cellular weight, typically between 10-20%.
Lipids: Lipids also contribute to the weight of a bacterial cell and make up a smaller portion, usually less than 10%.
Nucleic Acids: Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are important components of a bacterial cell and make up a small portion, typically around 1-2% of the total cellular weight.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates, including polysaccharides, are also present in bacterial cells, but typically make up a relatively small portion of the total cellular weight, usually less than 5%.
Note: This is just a general estimate and the exact percentage of each component can vary depending on the species of bacteria, growth conditions, and stage of growth