Question

which carbon - based compounds are essential to living things?
o proteins, petroleum, carbohydrates, lipids
o carbohydrates, mineral salts, proteins, nucleic acids
o carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
o water, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Explanation:

Carbohydrates provide energy, lipids are for energy - storage and cell - membrane structure, proteins have various functions like enzymes and structural support, and nucleic acids store genetic information. These are all carbon - based and essential to living things. Petroleum is a fossil fuel not essential for basic life processes, mineral salts are not carbon - based, and water is not carbon - based.

Answer:

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids