ABSTRACT

Every life form on earth has to undergo a multitude of chemical modifications, which include uptake and alteration of nutrients, synthesis and utilization of energy, cell division and growth, and even death. These chemical modifications are governed by a fundamental principle: One or more chemicals usually react to transform into a new one. To be more specific, a chemical reaction typically involves rearrangement of atoms from the reactant side to the product side: 6CO2 + 6H2O (+ light energy) = C6H12O6 + 6O2 (Figure 10.1).