Question

What does a lump of coal and your body have in common in terms of composition?

a) Both are primarily composed of carbon.
b) Both are primarily composed of hydrogen.
c) Both are primarily composed of oxygen.
d) Both are primarily composed of nitrogen.

Answer 1

Both a lump of coal and the human body are composed primarily of carbon, which is a key structural component in numerous organic compounds present both in coal and bodily tissues.

Step-by-step explanation:

A lump of coal and the human body have carbon in common in terms of composition. Coal is a complex solid material primarily derived from plants and contains a high amount of carbon alongside other elements, such as hydrogen and oxygen. It also includes hydrocarbons and, depending on its type, differing amounts of hydrogen and oxygen. Anthracite, the highest grade of coal, has a hydrogen:carbon ratio of about 0.5. On the other hand, the human body's most abundant elements are oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, and it obtains these through food and air. Carbon plays a critical role in the structure of organic molecules, including body compounds like glucose, which is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.