INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Complete the table provided in the next preceding pages. This output is graded collectively as an activity of the class; and
consequently, the final score for the output shall be the same for all students of the class regardless of the extent of
distribution of each student.

2. The highest score for this activity shall be 300 points which is equivalent to three (3) perfect recitations. The grading of
the output is based solely on the following criteria:

a. Completeness – 100 points

b. Relevance – 100 points
c. Progressiveness (whether the references cited are at within the last three years or from 2020 to present) – 100 points

NOTE that you may acquire only the following scores:

i. 0 – no substantial compliance with the criterion

ii. 50 – criterion is substantially, but not fully complied with
iii. 100 – criterion is fully complied with

3. DO NOT change the format (e.g., font, indentations, paragraph justifications, paper size, margins, and etc.) of the
document provided. Item numbers 7 (potassium), 15 (silicon), and 31 (nickel) are provided as examples for the format
for each entry.

4. Observe the proper use of subscripts and superscripts as may be applicable. [example(this is a superscript)(this is a subscript)]

5. PROPERLY CITE REFERENCES. It is mandatory that all entries in the following boxes must have a proper
citation:

a. Essential in the human body

b. Effects of deficit in the human body
c. Effects of excess in the human body

USE ONLY CREDIBLE REFERENCES:

a. Books (must be the most recent editions)

b. Published articles on internationally recognized journals (e.g., Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing)
c. Research papers (preferably peer-reviewed) and dissertations
d. Materials published by internationally recognized organizations (e.g., WHO)
e. Statements or materials published by authorized government agencies (e.g., DOH)
f. Websites intended for MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
g. Medical blogs ONLY WHEN managed by an accredited Nursing School or Medical School (e.g., Harvard Health
Blog)

UNACCEPTABLE REFERENCES INCLUDE:

a. Nursing or Medical blogs even when managed by corporations or professionals (e.g., Well, WebMD Doctors, Kaiser
Health News, Everyday Health, Shots, Health Essentials, To Your Health)
b. All other references not included in the list above

Citations should be in MLA8 format and entered in the document as a footnote. Ignorance of the MLA8 format or the
use of a footnote should not be an excuse because I have used 8 citations in the next preceding pages as examples.

Notice that the citations I used for research papers and journal articles are within the prescribed 3 years (2020-2023). The
only exception to the non-compliance to the criterion of ‘progressiveness’ are those cases in which there really are no
recent credible references to be cited. Two citation examples of such exception, dated 2014 and 2015 respectively, are
given as examples.

EVERY ENTRY IN THE 3 BOXES MENTIONED ABOVE THAT DOES NOT HAVE A PROPER CITATION
IS EQUIVALENT TO A DEDUCTION OF 10 POINTS EACH, WHICH MEANS THAT NONCOMPLIANCE
TO THE SAME MAY RESULT TO A NEGATIVE SCORE

6. FOR THE COLUMN/BOX “Essential in the human body:”

Only either of the following entries may be entered:

a. YES – if so, indicate the significance of such element in the human body
 b. NO – if so, provide a brief explanation (maximum of 2 sentences)
c. INCONCLUSIVE – this means that there is currently an insufficient volume of evidence-based research to establish
the element’s essentiality in the human body, or there are available evidence-based research, but not enough to
conclusively establish whether or not it is essential to the human body. Provide a brief explanation (maximum of 2
sentences)

7. FOR THE COLUMNS/BOXES “Effects of deficit in the human body” and “Effects of excess in the human body:”

Provide the following:

a. Brief description
b. Effects in the human body

NOTE that it is possible that some boxes may be left out as empty in these columns especially in cases where the
essentiality in the human body is indicated either as ‘NO’ or ‘INCONCLUSIVE’ (see examples on Silicon and Nickel).
This may only happen when there is lack of credible studies regarding such effects of deficit/excess of the respective
element in the human body.

8. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: The last date and time for submission shall be on September 23, 2023 at 11:59 PM.
Any submission later than the set deadline shall automatically render the score of the whole class as zero (0).

Send your final output in this email address: clcaliag@uc-bcf.edu.ph

 NON-TRACE ELEMENTS
Element Atomic Approximate Essential in the human body Effects of deficit in the human body Effects of excess in the human body
Number percentage
of mass in the
human body
1 Oxygen
2 Carbon
3 Hydrogen
4 Nitrogen
5 Calcium
6 Phosphorus
 7 Potassium 19 0.35% Yes Hypokalemia refers to serum potassium Hyperkalemia refers to excessive serum
level of less than 3.5 mEq/L.2 potassium level above the upper limits of
Potassium is the major cation in normal, commonly induced by other
the intracellular fluid. Alert: A slight decrease in potassium treatments.
levels can have profound critical
Potassium directly affects cell, consequences. Its effect on the human body may include:
nerve, and muscle function by:
Its effects on the human body may include: a. Acid-base balance – metabolic
a. Maintaining the acidosis
electrical neutrality and a. Gastrointestinal – abdominal b. Cardiovascular – cardiac arrest
osmolality of cells; cramps, anorexia, constipation, (with levels > 7.0 mEq/L),
b. Adding neuromuscular nausea, vomiting, and decreased electrocardiogram changes
transmission of nerve bowel sounds (tented and elevated T waves,
impulses; b. Genitourinary – polyuria widened QRS complex,
c. Assisting skeletal and c. Neuromuscular – muscle prolonged PR interval, flattened
cardiac muscle weakness, paresthesia, and or absent P waves, depressed ST
contraction and electrical hyporeflexia segment), tachycardia, and later
conductivity; d. Cardiovascular – orthostatic bradycardia
d. Affecting acid-base hypotension, and weak, irregular c. Gastrointestinal – abdominal
balance in relationship to pulse3 cramps, diarrhea, and nausea
hydrogen, another d. Genitourinary – anuria and
cation.1 oliguria
e. Musculoskeletal – flaccid
paralysis and muscle weakness
f. Neurologic – flaccid paralysis,
hyperreflexia progressing to
weakness, numbness, and
tingling4
8 Sulfur
9 Sodium
10 Chlorine
11 Magnesium
TRACE ELEMENTS

1
Colbert, Gates B, and Edgar V Lerma. Edited by Eric B Staros, Potassium, 4 Mar. 2020.
2
Castro D, Sharma S. Hypokalemia, StatPearls. 2022 Jan.
3
Lederer, Eleanor, et al. Edited by Vecihi Batuman, Hypokalemia, 13 June 2023.
4
derer, Eleanor, et al. Edited by Vecihi Batuman, Hyperkalemia, 13 June 2023.
 Element Atomic Approximate Essential in the human body Effects of deficit in the human body Effects of excess in the human body
number percentage
of mass in the
human body
12 Iron*
13 Fluorine
14 Zinc
15 Silicon 14 0.002% Inconclusive

The essentiality of Si still remains

enigmatic.5 Convincing evidence
that silicon is a bioactive
beneficial trace element continues
to accumulate. The evidence,
which has come from human
studies performed by several
laboratories, indicate that silicon
in nutritional and supra
nutritional amounts promotes
bone and connective tissue health,
may have a modulating effect on
the immune or inflammatory
response, and has been associated
with mental health. 6
16 Gallium
17 Rubidium
18 Strontium
19 Bromine
20 Lead
21 Copper
22 Aluminium
23 Cadmium
24 Cerium

5
Farooq, Muhammad Ansar, and Karl-Josef Dietz. Silicon as Versatile Player in Plant and Human Biology: Overlooked and Poorly Understood, Frontiers in Plant Science, 12 Nov. 2015.
6
Nielsen, Forrest. Update on the possible nutritional importance of silicon, Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology. July 2014.
 25 Barium
26 Tin
27 Iodine
28 Titanium
29 Boron
30 Selenium
31 Nickel 28 0.000014% No Nickel toxicity is described as either:
a. Excessive exposure:
At present, nickel is generally not ≥8 µg/L (blood)
considered an essential nutrient b. Severe poisoning:
for higher animals and humans ≥500 µg/L (8-h urine)
because it lacks a clearly defined
specific biochemical function nor Its effect on the body includes:
has a low dietary intake been
definitively shown to interrupt the a. If acute – dermatitis; nickel
life cycle.7 carbonyl: myocarditis, ALI, and
encephalopathy
b. If chronic (Occupational –
inhaled) – pulmonary fibrosis,
reduced sperm count, and
nasopharyngeal tumors8
32 Chromium
33 Manganese
34 Arsenic
35 Lithium
36 Mercury
37 Cesium
38 Molybdenum
39 Germanium
40 Cobalt
41 Ruthenium
42 Antimony
7
Nielsen F. Nickel, Advanced Nutriton, American Society for Nutrition. 2021 Feb 1;12(1):281-282.
8
Kalczynski, Jeffrey M, and William D Goldenberg. Edited by Stephen L Thornton, Seafood Toxicity, 5 Oct. 2022.
43 Silver
44 Niobium
45 Zirconium
46 Lanthanum
47 Tellurium
48 Yttrium
49 Bismuth
50 Thallium
51 Indium
52 Gold
53 Scandium
54 Tantalum
55 Vanadium
56 Thorium
57 Uranium
58 Samarium
59 Tungsten
60 Beryllium
61 Radium
62 Tungsten
63 Beryllium
64 Radium