Biosphere Contents

1. Organic Matter

Organic matter includes and depends on a range of chemical elements, notably carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are the main chemical elements of terrestrial organic matter. Other elements occur in typically smaller amounts, depending on the organic material in question, and their abundance can vary greatly between different species of animal or plant.

The elemental composition of marine organic matter is relatively constant throughout oceans. Typically marine organic matter contains carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in the molar ratio of 106:16:1.

What are the main chemical elements of organic matter?