Question

Elements of Carbohydrates Many chemical reactions take place inside cells. Organisms are constantly breaking apart
molecules and using the atoms to create other molecules. One of the classes of molecules found in living organisms is carbohydrates.

This is a molecule of glucose, a simple carbohydrate. If this molecule were broken down, would it provide all of the elements needed to assemble lipids, nucleic acids, or proteins?
Use evidence from the diagram in your answer.

This my answers but write it in a 7th graders response

Yes, breaking down glucose would provide all of the elements needed to assemble lipids, nucleic acids, or proteins. The diagram shows that glucose is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are the same elements that make up lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.

Answer 1

No. The diagram shows glucose is made of only carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O). Breaking glucose apart would give the cell those three elements, which is enough to make lipids because lipids are also mostly C, H, and O. But proteins need nitrogen (N) in amino acids, and nucleic acids need nitrogen and phosphorus (P) in their bases and phosphate groups. Since glucose doesn’t have N or P in the picture, it can’t provide all the elements needed for proteins or nucleic acids. Cells must get nitrogen and phosphorus from other molecules.