What is a key role of phosphorus in the environment?

Phosphorus plays a critical role in the environment, particularly due to its involvement in the structure and function of nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, and in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is essential for energy transfer within living cells. Nucleic acids are fundamental to the storage and transmission of genetic information, while ATP serves as the primary energy currency of the cell, providing the energy required for various biochemical reactions.

Without sufficient phosphorus, organisms cannot synthesize the necessary molecules for life processes, leading to impaired growth and function. This makes phosphorus not just significant for individual organisms, but also crucial for entire ecosystems, as it affects productivity in plants, which are the foundation of food chains.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the primary roles of phosphorus in the environment, highlighting the importance of option B as it captures the vital biochemical functions of phosphorus in living systems.