Which one of the following is considered as the basic structural element of all life forms?
Carbon
Phosphorus, oxygen and nitrogen are all essential elements of life, present in molecules such as ATP, water and amino acids respectively, but none of them forms the structural backbone of biomolecules.
Carbon has the unique ability to form four stable covalent bonds and link with other carbon atoms into long chains, branches and rings. This versatility allows it to form the backbone of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids, making it the basic structural element of all known life forms.
Hence, the answer is Carbon.
Important Questions from Organic Chemistry
Silica is -
The catalyst used in the manufacture of methyl alcohol from water gas is
A carbon compound when heated in excess of concentrated sulphuric acid at 443K gives ethene. The compound is an________.
The manmade fiber obtained by chemical treatment of wood pulp is _____.
The IUPAC name of the compound CH 3CH 2CH 3is-
