Which molecules are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus?

Nucleic acids are the molecules that consist of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. These essential macromolecules, including DNA and RNA, play crucial roles in storing and transmitting genetic information. The structure of nucleic acids is defined by their nucleotide monomers, which contain a nitrogenous base, a sugar (which includes carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen), and a phosphate group (which contains phosphorus). This unique composition distinguishes nucleic acids from other biological macromolecules.

In contrast, lipids primarily consist of carbon and hydrogen, with varying amounts of oxygen but lacking nitrogen and phosphorus. Carbohydrates are generally composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a specific ratio, with no nitrogen or phosphorus involved in their basic structure. Salts are ionic compounds that typically do not have a defined organic structure and primarily consist of metals and nonmetals, often lacking the carbon-based framework found in biological molecules. Therefore, nucleic acids are the only class of molecules among the choices that include all five elements listed.