3.1.1 Monomers and Polymers

• Biological polymers can be broken down into monomers by


  hydrolysis reactions

  
• Most biological polymers are formed from their monomers


  condensation reactions

  
• Evidence for evolution

  is information that supports the theory of evolution
• Theory of Evolution


  states that all organisms on Earth are descended from one or a few common ancestors and that they have changed and diversified over time
• There are loads of different types of biological molecules that make up all cells and organisms, such as


  ● carbohydrates● amino acids● proteins● lipids
• Polymers


  large, complex molecules composed of long chains of monomers joined together

  
• Hydrolysis Reacion


  breaks a chemical bond between two molecules and involves a molecule of water

  
• Condensation Reaction


  joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond and the elimination of a molecule of water

  
• Examples of monomers


  ● monosaccharides● amino acids● nucleotides
• Monomers


  smaller units from which larger molecules are made

  
• Polymers


  molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together

  
• The variety of life, both past and present, is extensive, but


  the biochemical basis of life is similar for all living things
• Biological polymers can be broken down into monomers by

  hydrolysisreactions

  
• Most biological polymers are formed from their monomers

  condensationreactions

  
• Evidence for evolution


  isinformationthatsupports the theory of evolution
• Theory of Evolution


  states thatall organisms on Earth are descended from one or a few common ancestorsand that they have changed and diversified over time
• There are loads of different types of biological molecules that make up all cells and organisms, such as


  ● carbohydrates

  ● amino acids

  ● proteins

  ● lipids
• Polymers


  large, complex molecules composed of long chains of monomersjoined together

  
• Hydrolysis Reacion


  breaksachemical bond between two moleculesandinvolvesamolecule of water

  
• Condensation Reaction


  joins two molecules togetherwith theformationofa chemical bondand theelimination of a molecule of water

  
• Examples of monomers


  ● monosaccharides

  ● amino acids

  ● nucleotides
• Monomers


  smaller unitsfrom whichlarger molecules are made

  
• Polymers0


  molecules madefrom alarge number of monomers joined together

  
• The variety of life, both past and present, is extensive, but


  thebiochemical basisoflife is similarforall living things
• .There is much variety of life within and between organisms but the biochemical basis of life is

  similar for all living things

  
• The key molecules that are required to build structures that enable organisms to function are

  ● Carbohydrates

  ● Proteins

  ● Lipids

  ● Nucleic Acids

  ● Water

  
• Monomers


  are thesmaller unitsfrom whichlarger molecules are made

  
• Polymers


  aremolecules made from a large number of monomers joined together in a chain

  
• Carbohydrates , proteins , lipids and nucleic acids contain the elements


  carbon( C ) andhydrogen( H ) — making themorganic compounds

  
• Carbon atoms are key to the organic compounds because

  Each carbon atom can form four covalent bonds— thismakesthecompounds very stable( ascovalent bondsareso strongtheyrequirealarge inputofenergytobreak them)

  
• Carbon atoms are key to the organic compounds because


  Carbon atoms can form covalent bonds with—oxygen , nitrogen and sulfur

  
• Carbon atoms are key to the organic compounds because


  Carbon atoms can bond to form—straight chains , branched chains or rings

  
• Carbon atoms are key to the organic compounds because


  Carbon compounds can form small single subunits—monomersthat bond with many repeating subunits to form large molecules—polymers—by a process called polymerisation

  
• Macromolecules are very large molecules that contain 1000 or more atoms therefore having

  a high molecular mass

  
• Polymers can be macromolecules. However, not all macromolecules are polymers as

  the subunits of polymers have to be the same repeating units
• Generally each atom will form a certain number of covalent bonds due to


  thenumber of free electrons in the outer orbital—e.g. H = 1 bond , C = 4 bonds

  
• Multiple pairs of electrons can be shared forming

  double bonds( e.g.unsaturated fats C = C)or triple bonds

  
• When two monomers are close enough that their outer orbitals overlap, this results in

  their electrons being shared and covalent bond forming— Ifmore monomers are addedthenpolymerisation occurs(and / or a macromolecule forms)

  
• A covalent bond is


  the sharing of two or more electrons between two atoms

  
• The electrons in a covalent bond can be

  shared equally forming a nonpolar covalent bond orunequally— wherean atom can be more electronegative 8-to form a polar covalent bond