Chemical Basis of Life (1)
Biology is the study of living organisms. In turn, organisms are chemical machines, i.e. organisms are composed of molecules, which are collections of smaller units called atoms. Therefore, we need to consider the chemistry of life or biochemistry.
Chemical Bonding
-electrons occupy various positions (distances) from the nucleus of an atom, known as energy levels.
-as an electron moves further from the nucleus of an atom, its potential energy increases. Why? Energy is input to reduce its everyday attraction to the positively charged nucleus.
-the outermost orbital or energy levels are termed the valence orbital; the valence electrons ** the chemical behaviour of an atom is determined by the number and arrangement of the valence electrons.
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