What if you sell a human body to a chemist..
Photo from photoXpress
Lets say, we will sell this man. How much will a chemist buy him? Is he worth more than the money on his hands?
Chemists can put a price tag on a person by breaking him down to his elemental composition. A human body is approximately composed of the following:
- 65% Oxygen
- 18% Carbon
- 10% Hydrogen
- 3% Nitrogen
- 1.5% Calcium
- 1% Phosphorous
- 0.35% Potassium
- 0.25% Sulfur
- 0.15% Sodium
- 0.15% Chlorine
- 0.05% Magnesium
- 0.0004% Iron
- 0.00004% Iodine
Given the elements in him and how much they are sold in the market, this man, along with all of us humans, are worth $1.
$1 huh? Hard to believe that Justin Bieber’s album costs more than you. The richest man in the world, Carlos Slim Helu, has a total net value of $63.3 Billion. Apparently, he can buy the whole human race for $7 Billion and still maintain the majority of his fortune. But that was just in the chemical point of view. And you can’t possibly create a person out of those elements – it doesn’t work backwards.
You could actually bargain an increase of your worth. Your skin could be sold at $0.50 per square foot, adding an additional $3.50 to your worth so wholly, you are just $4.50 chemically speaking.
All that information came from Dr. Helmenstine’s Guide. I’m in no position to verify its accuracy but it came from someone with a PhD Degree in related sciences. It looks forthright since our body is made up of mostly oxygen, carbon and hydrogen – elements that are abundant in our environment, it seems almost free. Well, you don’t pay for the oxygen you breath.
It is spectacular to me how life can emanate from less than $5 worth. Life is really simple. And no matter how much money you’ve got, you cannot replace a person. Every person’s life is worth living, so let’s spend it well.
What else can you buy for $1?
More Moments for you:
What If.. 80′s Prevail
What If.. No Harry Potter
What If.. Earth is Purgatory
World’s Richest Man; Forbes
How Much Are The Elements In Your Body Worth?; About.com
Moment Matters 
So when people donate their body to science, they aren’t really giving that much! How selfish.
Hmmm… I just realized how miniscule my already tiny life really is. LOL Thank you!
Sounds reasonable in theory, Until put to practice… Try buying a kidney on the black market and tell me we are only worth 5 bucks 🙂
Cute post. 🙂
True! Organs can be sold to a fortune. But it is still illegal to do so it was not accounted. And we are talking about our body’s elements that is the interest of a chemist. I appreciate your read and comment!
well, in a literal sense…
you are asking what our dead bodies are worth.
love your creativity…
in logic, however, you are comparing the monetary value of a dead body to a live (and talented) one.
don’t get me wrong- i really enjoy your sophistication; in regards to the art of presenting the contrast between the two. that’s why im here in the first place 🙂
No worries, I get that Sam =)) A chemist would be interested in the chemical components of our bodies anyway. I mean, you can’t seriously place a pricetag on a living person. (or if some insist, we would cost differently against each other).