The Element with the Highest Percentage of Dry Weight in Bacteria

Question

The element with the highest percentage of dry weight in bacteria is
A) calcium.
B) carbon.
C) hydrogen.
D) nitrogen.
E) phosphorus.

Accepted Answer

Carbon is the main component of organic compounds, which make up the majority of a bacterium's dry weight. While all of the listed elements play important roles in bacterial metabolism and structure, carbon is the most abundant in terms of overall weight.