Which of the Following is the Largest Component of the Dry

Question

Which of the following is the largest component of the dry weight of a cell?
A)inorganic compounds
B)minerals
C)water
D)organic compounds
E)salts

Accepted Answer

The largest component of the dry weight of a cell is organic compounds, such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and carbohydrates, which make up about 95% of the dry weight. Inorganic compounds and minerals are present in relatively small amounts, while water is usually excluded from dry weight measurements. Salts may be present, but their contribution to the dry weight is also small.