Humans are often referred to as "carbon-based" life forms. Given that humans breathe oxygen, shouldn't humans be referred to as "oxygen-based" life forms?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

While humans do breathe in oxygen, carbon is actually the most abundant element in human cells. This is because carbon is the building block of organic molecules, and organic molecules (such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins) are essential to the structure and function of living cells. Humans exhale carbon dioxide because it is a waste product of cellular metabolism, which heavily involves carbon-based molecules.

Humans Are Often Referred to as "Carbon-Based" Life Forms