Question

Microorganisms assimilate large amounts of all of the following except ______ into organic molecules.

1) nitrogen
2) phosphorus
3) sodium
4) sulfur

Answer 1

Microorganisms do not assimilate large amounts of sodium into organic molecules; they primarily assimilate nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, which are key components of cellular organic compounds.

Step-by-step explanation:

Microorganisms assimilate large amounts of all of the following into organic molecules except sodium. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur, along with carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are considered macronutrients and are components of key organic compounds within cells, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Nitrogen is particularly crucial as it forms part of the amino acids and nucleotides. In the nitrogen cycle, specific bacteria fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into forms usable by plants and other organisms. However, sodium, while necessary in some biological processes, is not a major component of organic molecules and does not play a role in the nitrogen cycle, nor is it assimilated into organic molecules in the same way as the other elements listed.