From our previous lecture, we learned that life of an organism is governed by the same

Principles of chemistry and physics as all other types of matter.

Therefore, there is no way for us to disobey these principles in studying the plant life.

Our topic for this lecture is about the chemical basis of life.

It is inevitable that before we study the plant cellular function, we should understand first

The structure and properties of the major types of biological molecules.

Remember that the morphological and physiological characteristics of cells as well as other cellular

Structures are derived directly from the activities of the molecules of which they are composed.

Thus, for us to understand the basis of plant life, we should be provided the necessary basic

Information about the chemistry of life.

So let us look first the basic anatomy of an atom and how they form to become a molecule.

Atoms are the basic units of matter and the defining structure of elements.

The nucleus of every atom, except the hydrogen, is consists of both positively charged protons

And electrically neutral neutrons.

The number of electrons in an atom is equal to its number of protons, which is referred
To as the atomic number, so that the atom has no net charge.

Because it is the electrons that mean the chemical behavior of an atom, all the atoms

Of a given element have the same atomic number.

Neutrons are uncharged subatomic particles of essentially the same mass as protons.

They contribute to the structural stability of the nucleus.