10 points Which of the following has the element correctly matched with its description? * O Phosphorous: Most abundant gas in the atmosphere O Carbon: Basis for all living things, every living thing contains this element Oxygen: A unique element that distinguishes nucleic acids from the other biomolecules O Nitrogen: A element only found solely in storage sites of plants and soil

 The element correctly matched with its description is "Carbon: Basis for all living things, every living thing contains this element." Carbon is known for being the fundamental building block of life, as it is capable of forming a vast array of complex organic molecules.

Extra: Let's break down why the other options are incorrect and expand on the concepts:

- Phosphorous: It is an incorrect match because the most abundant gas in the atmosphere is actually nitrogen (approximately 78%). Phosphorous, however, is an essential element found in DNA, RNA, ATP, and other biological molecules, but it is not a gas.

- Oxygen: This element is also an essential part of life, particularly because it's a major component of water and is necessary for respiration in aerobic organisms. However, oxygen is not unique to nucleic acids; it's also found in proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.

- Nitrogen: This is an incorrect match because nitrogen is not an element found only in storage sites of plants and soil. Nitrogen is a major component of the Earth's atmosphere and is essential for plant and animal life. It is a key element in amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids, and the nitrogen cycle is an important process that converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form that is usable by living organisms.

Now, let's look at the correct match more closely:

- Carbon: Carbon is indeed the basis for all known life on Earth. Its ability to form stable bonds with many elements, including itself, allows for the formation of a large variety of structures, from simple hydrocarbons to complex DNA and RNA molecules. Carbon atoms are the backbone of biological molecules, and they define the structures of sugars, proteins, fats, and nucleic acids. The unique properties of carbon make it a central part of organic chemistry, which is the study of carbon-containing compounds.