Final answer:
Macronutrients are required by the body in large quantities and include elements and compounds that form macromolecules and provide energy, while micronutrients are needed in smaller quantities and include vitamins and minerals essential for chemical reactions and processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic difference between macronutrients and micronutrients lies in the quantity required by the body. Macronutrients are needed in large amounts and include elements like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. These are essential for making macromolecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, with carbon forming a significant part of the cellular dry weight. Additionally, water and energy-yielding nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids are considered macronutrients because they provide energy and are required in substantial quantities by our bodies.
On the other hand, micronutrients include vitamins and minerals, which are needed in much smaller quantities. Micronutrients are crucial for many chemical reactions and processes like nerve impulses, some contribute to the body's structure, like calcium, and they do not provide energy like macronutrients do. While some micronutrients can be stored in the body's tissues, such as vitamin A and vitamin D, water-soluble ones like vitamin C and most B vitamins must be consumed regularly as they cannot be stored.