What type of matter is essential for the composition of living things?

Organic matter is essential for the composition of living things because it is primarily made up of carbon-based compounds that form the building blocks of life. These compounds include proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, all of which play crucial roles in the structure and function of cells. Living organisms must assimilate organic matter primarily through food sources to obtain energy and sustain biological processes.

In contrast, inorganic matter typically refers to compounds that do not primarily consist of carbon, such as minerals and metals, which are important for various biological functions but do not form the foundational components of living organisms. Synthetic matter refers to man-made substances that may not naturally occur and may not have biological relevance in the context of living things. Elemental matter refers to pure chemical substances made up of a single type of atom, which do not alone account for the complexity of biological structures required for life.