Question

What is the initial used to remember the elements that make up each of these: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acid?

Answer 1

To remember the elements that make up the main biological macromolecules, recall that carbohydrates consist of C, H, and O in a 1:2:1 ratio; lipids are mainly composed of C, H, and O; proteins include C, H, O, and N; and nucleic acids are made of C, H, O, N, and P.

Step-by-step explanation:

The initial mnemonic to remember the elements that make up carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids can be summarized as follows:

• Carbohydrates: Composed of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) in a 1:2:1 ratio.
• Lipids: Mainly made of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O), though the ratio can vary widely.
• Proteins: Contain carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N) as their primary elements.
• Nucleic Acids: Composed of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P).

These elements combine in various combinations to form the biological macromolecules essential for life. Proteins and nucleic acids are especially critical as they are informational macromolecules, while carbohydrates and lipids are primarily used for energy storage and cell structure.