This unit covers the chemistry of life over 12 days. Students will read chapters 1-6 or 8 in the textbook. Key topics include hypotheses of the origin of life, organisms requiring constant energy input and matter exchange, and how the subcomponents and sequence of biological molecules determine their properties and structure/function. Students will perform a lab on the effect of various factors on enzyme activity. Formulas for Gibbs free energy will also be covered. Assessment will include a traditional test with an essay question and multiple choice, addressing topics like controlled experiments, bonding types, water properties, carbon bonding, macromolecule structure/function, metabolism, and regulation of enzymes.