Which group of nutrients is specifically needed in larger amounts by microorganisms for growth and metabolism?

Macronutrients are the group of nutrients that microorganisms require in larger amounts for growth and metabolism. These nutrients typically include elements such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium. They play crucial roles in forming the structural components of cells, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, as well as being involved in various metabolic pathways that provide energy and support cellular functions.

In contrast, micronutrients, which include vitamins and minerals, are necessary as well but are needed in much smaller quantities. These micronutrients are often catalysts for biochemical reactions and are essential for certain physiological functions, but they do not serve as the building blocks for macro-level cellular structures in the same way that macronutrients do. Trace elements, similar to micronutrients, are required in minute amounts, often serving as cofactors for enzymatic reactions. Vitamins are organic compounds required by organisms in small quantities but generally do not fit into the broader functional categories needed for cell structure and energy metabolism as macronutrients do. Thus, macronutrients are fundamentally essential for the overall growth and development of microorganisms.