Tabla de Contenidos
The human body is made up of the same particles that are found in nature all around us. These are the atoms, with their electrons, protons and neutrons. It also includes empty spaces between them.
Most of our body is made up of water. Bearing in mind that water, in turn, is made up of hydrogen and oxygen (H 2 0), we can deduce that the main atoms that make up the human body are hydrogen and oxygen.
But also, like other living beings, we are made up of carbon atoms. In total, and approximately, our composition is 65% oxygen, 18% carbon and 9.5% hydrogen. The rest is made up of nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, magnesium, chlorine, and other elements.
The number of atoms in the body
The number of atoms in the human body can be expressed as 7 x 10 27 . This is equivalent to 7,000 quadrillion. The calculation is approximate, and is based on the body of an adult man weighing 70 kilos.
Thus, a person who weighs less will have fewer atoms, while a person who weighs more will have more.
Below is a list with an estimate of the number of atoms of each element in our body:
| Element | Symbol | Approximate number of atoms |
| Hydrogen | h | 4.22 x 10 27 |
| Oxygen | EITHER | 1.61 x 10 27 |
| Carbon | C. | 8.03 x 10 26 |
| Nitrogen | No. | 3.9 x 10 25 |
| Calcium | AC | 1.6 x 10 25 |
| Match | P | 9.6 x 10 24 |
| Sulfur | S | 2.6 x 10 24 |
| Sodium | na | 2.5 x 10 24 |
| Potassium | k | 2.2 x 10 24 |
| Chlorine | Cl | 1.6×10 24 |
The number of atoms of other elements that are part of the human body are:
| Element | Symbol | Approximate number of atoms |
| Magnesium | mg | 4.7 x 10 23 |
| Silicon | Yeah | 3.9 x 10 23 |
| Fluorine | F | 8.3 x 10 22 |
| Iron | Faith | 4.5 x 10 22 |
| Zinc | Zn | 2.1 x 10 22 |
| Rubidium | rb | 2.2 x 10 21 |
| Strontium | Mr | 2.2 x 10 21 |
| Bromine | br | 2 x 10 21 |
| Aluminum | To the | 1 x 10 21 |
| Copper | cu | 7 x 10 20 |
In addition, the human body is also made up of other atoms, including:
| Element | Symbol | Approximate number of atoms |
| Manganese | Mn | 1 x 10 20 |
| Nickel | Neither | 1 x 10 20 |
| Lithium | Li | 1 x 10 20 |
| Barium | Ba | 8 x 10 19 |
| Iodine | Yo | 5 x 10 19 |
| Mercury | Hg | 6 x 10 18 |
| Arsenic | Ace | 6 x 10 18 |
| Chrome | Cr | 6 x 10 18 |
Bibliography
- Gellon, G. Once upon a time there was an atom: Or how scientists imagine the invisible. (2007). Spain. XXI Century of Spain Publishers.
- Miglietta, A. Atoms and molecules. Brief history of chemistry. (2019). Spain. susaeta.
- Clegg, B. (2020, September 2). What is the human body really made of? BBC Science Focus . https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-53959099
