In my youth, I spent an unreasonable amount of time questioning why A-level chemistry was a prerequisite for medical school. Why was it as essential as biology? Why did I need to learn about electrons and entropy? The penny finally dropped when my rather brilliant teachers turned my attention towards the periodic table.
Every single atom in our bodies can be found in the periodic table – from chlorine to chromium, magnesium to manganese. In fact, just six elements make up about 98.5% of our body mass: 65% oxygen, 18% carbon, 10% hydrogen, 3% nitrogen, 1.5% calcium, and just over 1% phosphorus. The remaining 1.5% is made up of trace elements – potassium, sulphur, iron, zinc, copper, and many others – all of which play crucial roles in keeping us alive.
