The natural abundances of elements in the human body, expressed as percent by mass, are: oxygen (O),65 percent; carbon (C), 18 percent; hydrogen (H), 10 percent; nitrogen (N), 3 percent; calcium (Ca), 1.6 percent; phosphorus (P), 1.2 percent; all other elements, 1.2 percent. Calculate the mass in grams of each element in the body of a 62-kg person.

The mass in grams of each element in the body of 62 Kg are

Oxygen 40300 g

Carbon 11160 g

Hydrogen 6200 g

Nitrogen 1860 g

Calcium 992 g

Phosphorus 744 g

Other elements 744 g

It is possible to check it adding all the components, the total is 62000 g.

Explanation:

Firstly, we have a total mass of 62 Kg and the composition as a percentage of each component.

Percentage (%)

Oxygen 65.0

Carbon 18.0

Hydrogen 10.0

Nitrogen 3.0

Calcium 1.6

Phosphorus 1.2

Other elements 1.2

Taking the definition of a percentage as part of hundred total, each percentage can be expressed as a decimal number. We should divide the percentage with 100 of total. For example: Oxygen 65%, it means 65/100 = 0.65. So, Oxygen is 0.65 in decimal numbers. We do the same for each component.

Percentage (%) Decimal number

Oxygen 65.0 65/100 = 0.65

Carbon 18.0 18/100 = 0.18

Hydrogen 10.0 10/100 = 0.10

Nitrogen 3.0 3/100 = 0.03

Calcium 1.6 1.6/100 = 0.016

Phosphorus 1.2 1.2/100 = 0.012

Other elements 1.2 1.2/100 = 0.012

Finally. We can multiply decimal number of each component taking the total. 1 Kg is equivalent to 1000 g.

So, 62 Kg = 62 * 1000 g = 62000 g

After that we get the mass in grams of each element, by multiplying 62000 g and the decimal number of each component as follows:

Percentage (%) Decimal number Mass in grams (g)

Oxygen 65.0 65/100 = 0.65 0.65*62000=40300

Carbon 18.0 18/100 = 0.18 0.18*62000 = 11160

Hydrogen 10.0 10/100 = 0.10 0.10*62000 = 6200

Nitrogen 3.0 3/100 = 0.03 0.03*62000 = 1860

Calcium 1.6 1.6/100 = 0.016 0.016*62000 = 992

Phosphorus 1.2 1.2/100 = 0.012 0.012*62000=744

Other elements 1.2 1.2/100 = 0.012 0.012*62000=744