which element's properties form the basis for all life?
The Major Elements of Life. It's Alive: Organic Compounds Essential for Living Things. Elements and Compounds Essential to Living Organisms. There are 25 elements that are essential for life, but only four (oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen) make up 96% of all living matter. A trace element is a chemical element that is needed in minute quantities for the proper growth, development, and physiology of the organism.