Monomers and polymers

• What is the biochemical basis of life for all living things?

  It is similar for all organisms
• What are the key molecules required for organisms to function?

  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids
  • Water
• What are monomers?

  Smaller units from which larger molecules are made
• What are polymers?

  Molecules made from many monomers joined together
• How do carbon compounds form polymers?

  Through a process called polymerisation
• What are macromolecules?

  Very large molecules containing 1000 or more atoms
• Can all macromolecules be classified as polymers?

  No, not all macromolecules are polymers
• What is a covalent bond?

  Sharing of electrons between two atoms
• What types of covalent bonds exist?

  Nonpolar and polar covalent bonds
• How many covalent bonds can hydrogen form?

  1 bond
• How many covalent bonds can carbon form?

  4 bonds
• Why are covalent bonds considered stable?

  High energies are required to break them
• What can multiple pairs of electrons form?

  Double or triple bonds
• What happens when two monomers are close enough?

  Their outer orbitals overlap and bond
• What is a condensation reaction?

  • Monomers combine by covalent bonds
  • Water is removed
  • Forms polymers or macromolecules
• What is the equation for a condensation reaction?

  Monomer + Monomer → Polymer + 2H₂O
• What is hydrolysis?

  • Means "to break with water"
  • Covalent bonds are broken
  • Water is added to polymers
• What is the equation for hydrolysis?

  Polymer + 2H₂O → Monomer + Monomer
• What are the types of covalent bonds in organic molecules?

  • Carbohydrates: glycosidic bonds
  • Proteins: peptide bonds
  • Lipids: ester bonds
  • Nucleic Acids: phosphodiester bonds
• What is an important tip when discussing monomers and polymers?

  Define and give specific examples
• Why are lipid molecules not classified as polymers?

  They do not form from repeating monomers
• What is the structure of triglycerides?

  Fatty acids join to a glycerol molecule
• How are separate lipid molecules held together?

  They are not held by covalent bonds