1.1 Monomers and Polymers

• Biological molecules

  • Organic compounds
  • made within/by a living organism
  • Carbon
• Monomers

  small, individual molecules that join to make polymers
• Polymers

  Long chains of repeating monomers that are joined through polymerisation.
• Monomer: Monosaccharide

  Polymer: Starch/ glucose/ cellulose
• Monomer: Amino Acid

  Polymer: Proteins
• Monomer: Nucleotides

  Polymer: DNA/RNA
• Condensation

  • Forms a covalent bond between 2 molecules
  • Water is released
  • Typically happens between 2 hydroxl groups

  
• Hydrolysis

  • Splits molecules
  • Uses water
  • Breaks covalent bonds

  
• Ionic bonding


  • Non-metal and metal
  • electrons move from metal to non-metal
  • Form positive and negative ions
  • Drawn together by electrostatic charge
• Covalent Bonding


  • share electrons
  • non-metal and non-metal
  • want full outershells
  • strong bond
  • Form new molecules
• Hydrogen bonds


  • electrons move in their shells
  • atoms polarise and attract each other
  • weak electrostatic interactions
  • always involves hydrogen
  • individually, not strong bonds
  • stabalise polymers
  • cause the cohesion of water molecules