Nutrition Science and Everyday Application - beta v 0.1

An Introduction to Molecules
In order to understand the chemical structure of nutrients and how they function in the
body and provide energy to cells of the body, you must first understand the basic chemical
structure of molecules. Nutrients are chemical molecules that are found in foods and
required by our bodies to maintain life and support growth and health. On this page, we’ll
zoom in to understand how atoms bond together to form these chemical molecules.
THE ATOM
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. All living and nonliving things are
composed of matter. Atoms are the fundamental unit of matter. The chair you are sitting in
is made of atoms. The food you ate for lunch was built from atoms. Even the air you breathe
is made of atoms. An atom is the smallest unit of an element, just like a blade is the smallest
unit of grass. An element is made entirely from one specific type of atom. There are more
than 100 elements that make up the world we live in, however hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen,
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