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What molecules from food and air end up in the cells of the body?

a) Oxygen and nitrogen
b) Carbohydrates and proteins
c) Carbon dioxide and water
d) Vitamins and minerals

User Nmh
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Cells in the body use oxygen and various nutrients such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins from food and air for energy, growth, and maintenance. Vitamins and minerals are also transported into cells to support their functions. Hemoglobin and carbonic anhydrase play roles in transporting and managing gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide within the body. The best choice of action is b) Carbohydrates and proteins.

Step-by-step explanation:

The molecules from food and air that end up in the cells of the body are primarily oxygen and nutrients like carbohydrates, lipids (fats), and proteins. Oxygen is critical for cellular respiration, where it is used to help convert glucose (a type of carbohydrate) into ATP (the main energy currency of the cell), producing water and carbon dioxide as byproducts. Nutrients like carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins are broken down through various metabolic processes to provide the building blocks and energy necessary for the maintenance, repair, and function of cells.

Vitamins and minerals are also essential as they play key roles as cofactors for enzymes and are important for various cellular functions. Hemoglobin in red blood cells is crucial for transporting oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and carrying carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation. Chlorophyll is not found in human cells but is critical for photosynthesis in plant cells, capturing light energy to synthesize sugars from carbon dioxide and water. Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme present in red blood cells that helps in the rapid conversion of carbon dioxide and water to carbonic acid, which is then carried in the blood to the lungs.

User Nikolay Talanov
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