Write an essay on The Valence Shell. Describe how the electron configuration in this determines the type of bonds between atoms.
Explore everyday household liquids and discuss why they may be classified as acids or bases. What is the pH scale and how does it help us to categorize the toxicity of liquids? Are body fluids also acids and bases?
Describe the three common states of matter and how they are related to temperature and pressure as forces on Earth. On other planets there may be different forces that could alter the states of common items. e.g. could you find Iron as a gas in some planet? How could that happen if at all? Could you find solid oxygen in a planet? Is that possible, and if so, why?
Discuss in your own words the importance of Carbon in life forms. What is special about Carbon that it has become the essential part of organic molecules? Could Silica based life forms exist? We use microchips increasingly to enhance deficiencies in humans, including direct implanting them into the brain-could we be gradually transforming away from a carbon dominant life form?
Describe Proteins, Carbohydrates and Lipids. Assume you are describing these to a colleague who is very intelligent but does not know anything about biology. Describe the components of each of the biological molecules and comment on when life functions become manifest from these molecules.
