1. Oxygen (O): The most abundant element in the body, it's vital for respiration and many other processes.
2. Carbon (C): The backbone of all organic molecules, forming the structural framework of life.
3. Hydrogen (H): A key component of water and organic molecules, playing a role in energy storage and transfer.
4. Nitrogen (N): Essential for building proteins, nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), and other molecules.
5. Calcium (Ca): Important for bones, teeth, muscle function, and nerve transmission.
6. Phosphorus (P): Found in DNA, RNA, ATP (energy currency), and bone.
These six elements account for over 99% of the mass of a human body. Other trace elements are also essential for life, but in much smaller amounts.