If you could break down you body into its constituent elements, do you know what you would be made of? If your curiosity is piqued by this, consider the facts below as provided by BBCiWonder
Ninety nine percent of the human body is made up of six common elements. These are Oxygen (61%), Hydrogen (10%), Carbon (23%), Calcium (1.4%), Nitrogen (2.6%), Phosphorus (1,1%) and others (1,1%).
In total, the human body contains 27 elements of the periodic table, which are essential to life. In addition to the ones previously mentioned, these are Lithium, Sodium (Na), Magnesium, Boron, Fluorine, Silicon, Sulphur, Chlorine, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron (Fe), Cobalt, Nickel, Copper (Cu), Zinc, Molybednum, Iodine, Selenium, and Bromide.
Their Functions In the Body
Each of these elements have unique functions that they carry out in the body
- Iodine maintains the thyroid gland
- Magnesium regulates the heartbeat
- Calcium maintains and builds bone and teeth
- Zinc helps to maintain a healthy immune system
- Chromium stabilises blood sugar
- Iron is used in the production of haemoglobin
- Selenium is used in the production of antibodies
The human body also contains traces of many non-essential elements like Berrylium, Aluminium, Caesium, Silver (Ag), Gold (Au), Cadmium, Astatine, Tin (Sn), Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), and others like them.
Fast Facts
- The quantity of Lead found in car batteries will be found in the bodies of 72,500 humans put together.
- The quantity of Gold found in an 8g gold coin will be found in the bodies of 4,000 humans put together.
- Aluminium found in 250 humans will make up the quantity of a 33cl drinks can.
- A human has the same quantity of Iron as a 2-inch nail.
I bet you didn’t know these! Oh! the things one will learn!!
