Final answer:
The order of chemical signaling in multicellular organisms, ranked by distance, is contact-dependent, paracrine, endocrine, and neuronal signaling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four categories of chemical signaling found in multicellular organisms, ranked by distance, are:
Contact-dependent signaling
Paracrine signaling
Endocrine signaling
Neuronal signaling
Contact-dependent signaling is the shortest distance, as it involves direct cell-to-cell contact. Paracrine signaling occurs between adjacent cells. Endocrine signaling involves the release of hormones into the bloodstream, allowing signaling over long distances. Neuronal signaling, on the other hand, can transmit signals from one part of the body to another over long distances through specialized cells known as neurons.