An "element" in biochemistry is a chemical compound made up of atoms with the same amount of protons in their atomic nuclei. Elements are the fundamental constituents of matter, and each element is distinguished by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in the nucleus of its atoms. Elements are arranged on the periodic table by atomic number, and they combine to produce molecules and compounds, which are required for the structure and function of biological molecules. Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur are all common components present in biological systems.
