What is the common nonmetallic element that is found in all living things?

Carbon is the common nonmetallic element found in all living things, serving as the fundamental building block of life. It is a unique element due to its ability to form four covalent bonds with a variety of other elements, including itself. This property allows carbon to create a vast array of complex molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, which are essential for the structure and function of living organisms.

Moreover, carbon is the backbone of organic chemistry, enabling the formation of diverse structures and functional groups that are critical for biological processes. Its ability to form long chains and rings makes it versatile, which is why it is considered a key element in biochemistry and the basis for the molecular diversity found in life forms. Thus, its omnipresence in biological systems underscores its significance as the foundational element in all living organisms.