HYPOTHESIS

What elements are you made of?

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MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT

• periodic table
• calculator

PROCEDURE

1. On the following page is a list of the amount of different chemical elements found in a typical human body. Look up their symbols in the periodic table and write it in the chart.

2. Rewrite the list with the elements in order of abundance.

3. Plot them using a bar chart.

4. What is the weight of the person in this example.? _________

CHALLENGE

If there are 15 pounds of hydrogen and 97 pounds of oxygen in an average human body, are there more hydrogen or oxygen atoms? Use the atomic weights of hydrogen or oxygen to figure this out.

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Table A: Composition Of A Typical Body

Element	Symbol	Pounds
Calcium		3.00
Carbon		27.00
Chlorine		0.25
Hydrogen		15.00
Magnesium		0.06
Nitrogen		4.50
Oxygen		97.00
Phosphorus		1.30
Potassium		0.50
Sodium		0.25
Sulfur		0.50

Table B: Elements In Order Of Abundance

Abundance	Symbol	Amount
Most Abundant
Least Abundant

Copyright 1996, D.M.Candelora. All rights reserved. Reproduction for educational use is encouraged.