Three Light Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen—Make the Material World

Minerals would have just stayed minerals in rocks on earth but for their enabling conversion by mature dead plant matter into metals from the times of the Iron and Bronze ages, when Homo sapiens understood the benefits of ' agni ,' biofire, for food as well as materials. Biomolecules consist of three major light elements—carbon, hydrogen and oxygen—tied together with the minor element nitrogen and other smaller component elements in all parts of a plant in varying proportions. Use of this biomatter in mineral reduction requires effective use of the carbon and hydrogen in it while maximizing the thermal benefits from inherent oxidation needed for the material production. Thermodynamics can show how best to use this biomatter as reductant with minimal thermal waste pollution, which is the main goal of NetZero 2050. Plants of the past have provided coal and coke as reductant till now. Prelithic C–H–O light elements in the age of Homo sapiens were established in material manufacturing because of their many uses already before the Stone Age and still are used today. Moderating their efficient use is wise.