CHNOPS: The Six Most Abundant Elements of Life
Which is the BEST?!
Most molecules produced by living organisms (biological molecules) are made from combinations of
six important elements, whose chemical symbols are C, H, N, O, P, & S. The letters stand for the
chemical abbreviations of: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. These six elements
make up 98% of the mass of all living organisms.
Directions:
1. Read your fact sheet on the back of this page. You will use evidence from this text to support
the claim that your element is the best!
2. You will work together as a group to prepare your opening statement. One person from each
group will deliver their opening statement.
3. Once each group has shared its opening statement, you will work together as a group to
prepare an attack against your opponent. One person from each group will deliver the attack.
4. Once each group has shared its attack, you will work together as a group to prepare a defense
against the attack, and a closing statement.
* During each groups’ debate, one person from each team will take notes about their team, the team
they are attacking, and the team attacking them. Pay close attention to their claims and use of
evidence.
Element
Will attack:
Carbon (C)
Hydrogen (H)
Hydrogen (H)
Nitrogen (N)
Nitrogen (N)
Oxygen (O)
Oxygen (O)
Phosphorus (P)
Phosphorus (P)
Sulfur (S)
Sulfur (S)
Carbon (C)
Fact Sheet
Carbon
 Elemental carbon can take the form of one of the hardest substances (diamond) or one of the softest
(graphite)
 Carbon is made in the interiors of stars
 Carbon compounds have limitless uses. In its elemental form, diamond is a gemstone and used for
drilling/cutting; graphite is used in pencils, as a lubricant, and to protect against rust; while charcoal is
used to remove toxins, tastes, and odors. The isotope Carbon-14 is used in radiocarbon dating.
 Pure carbon is considered non-toxic, although inhalation of fine particles, such as soot, can damage
lung tissue.
 Carbon is the fourth most abundant element in the universe
(hydrogen, helium, and oxygen are found in higher amounts, by mass)
Hydrogen
 Hydrogen is the lightest element
 Hydrogen is the most abundant element. About 75% of the element mass of the universe is hydrogen
 Hydrogen gas is extremely flammable. It is used as a fuel by the space shuttle main engine and was
associated with the famous explosion of the Hindenburg airship.
 The physical form of hydrogen at room temperature and pressure is a colorless and odorless gas.
 Hydrogen has many uses, though most hydrogen is used for processing fossil fuels and in the
production of ammonia.
Nitrogen
 Nitrogen is odorless, tasteless, and colorless
 Nitrogen gas is relatively inert (it does not react), but soil bacteria can “fix” nitrogen into a form that
plants and animals can use to make amino acids and proteins
 Nitrogen compounds are found in foods, fertilizers, poisons, and explosives. Your body is 3% nitrogen
by weight
 Nitrogen is responsible for the orange-red, blue-green, blue-violet, and deep violet colors of the aurora
Oxygen
 Animals and plants require oxygen for respiration.
 Oxygen gas is colorless, odorless, and tasteless
 Oxygen supports combustion
 Oxygen is responsible for the bright red and yellow green colors of the aurora
 Oxygen is an essential factor for burning up the body’s toxins
Phosphorus
 Hennig Brand discovered phosphorus in 1669, in Hamburg, Germany, preparing it from urine.
 White phosphorus ignites spontaneously in air. Red phosphorus needs friction to ignite it, hence its use
in matches. Heating white phosphorus in the absence of air makes red phosphorus.
 White phosphorus is highly toxic. Skin contact can result in severe burns. Red phosphorus is non-toxic.
 Phosphorus is a vital plant nutrient and its main use is in the production of fertilizers
 Phosphorus is used in the manufacturing of: safety matches, fireworks, steel, bronze, detergents, LEDs,
Sulfur
 Although sulfur is commonly thought to smell bad, it is odorless. The smell of rotten eggs or burning
matches actually comes from hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide
 Sulfur is a component of gunpowder. It is used in the vulcanization of rubber. Sulfur has applications as
a fungicide, fumigant, and in the making of fertilizers. It is used to make sulfuric acid. Sulfur is used in
the making of several types of paper and as a bleaching agent. Elemental sulfur is used as an electrical
insulator.
 Sulfur compounds can be highly toxic. For example, small amounts of hydrogen sulfide can be
metabolized, but higher concentrations can quickly cause death from respiratory paralysis. Hydrogen
sulfide quickly deadens the sense of smell. Sulfur dioxide is an important atmospheric pollutant.
 Hennig Brand, who discovered sulfur, also discovered the element phosphorus
 Sulfur is commonly found near volcanoes.
Name: _______________________________ Block: _____________ Date: _______________
CHNOPS Debate
Directions: Write bulleted notes in each box during each phase of the debate. (More on back!)
Role
Person Responsible
Opening Statement
Attack
Defense / Closing Statement
Notes
Everyone
My group’s element: _______________________
Opening Statement
Claim: My element ________________
is the best because…
Attack on ________________________
Defense from ___________________
Closing statement:
Element I am attacking: ______________________
Their Opening Statement
Attack on ________________________
Defense from ___________________
Claim: My element ________________
is the best because…
Closing statement:
Element attacking me: _______________________
Their Opening Statement
Claim: My element ________________
is the best because…
Attack on ________________________
Defense from ___________________
Closing statement:
Lesson Recall:
Which six elements make up 98% of biological molecules? What is the acronym we use to remember?
_____________
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Which two elements of the six are most abundant in our universe? _________________ & ________________
What is an element? Define and give three examples.
What is an atom? Define and draw one.
What is a compound? Define and give an example.