Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What is the term for substances that nourish living organisms?

1. Minera

2. Nutrients

3. Compounds

4. Elements

The correct answer is: Nutrients

The term for substances that nourish living organisms is "nutrients." Nutrients are essential for growth, metabolism, and overall health in living organisms. They provide the necessary components for energy, development, and the maintenance of life processes. In biological terms, nutrients can be classified into macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, which are required in larger quantities, and micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, which are needed in smaller amounts but are equally important for physiological functions. The other terms listed do not specifically refer to substances that nourish living organisms. While "minerals," "compounds," and "elements" can be involved in various biological processes, they do not encompass the broad concept of nourishment that "nutrients" entails. Minerals are a category of nutrients, but not all minerals provide nourishment in the same way as other nutrients do. Compounds can refer to chemical substances formed from two or more elements, and elements are the simplest forms of matter that cannot be broken down. Therefore, only "nutrients" accurately describes substances essential for nourishing living organisms.