Monomers and Polymers

• Carbon Atoms

  • readily bond with other carbon atoms
  • can form 4 bonds
  • has 6 neutrons, protons and electrons
  • a sequence of carbon atoms can form a backbone which other atoms can attach to
• BIOCHEMICAL BASIS OF LIFE

  • life on earth is based on carbon
  • there is relatively few other atoms that attach to carbon
  • CARBOHYDRATES, PROTEINS, LIPIDS
  • shared biochemistry provides indirect evidence for evolution
• CONDENSATION REACTION: happens between 2 monosaccharides to form a disaccharide through the formation of a glycosidic bond and a molecules of water is eliminated. if these condensation reactions continue to occur, then a long chain called a polysaccharide will form.
• Condensation reactions form polymers
• Monosaccharides are bonded by glycosidic bonds
• HYDROLYSIS: breaks down the glycosidic bond between 2 monomers, involving the use of water.
• EXAMPLES OF HYDROLYSIS:

  • a polymer such as glycogen is broken down into monosaccharides, when hydrolysis reactions break down the glycosidic bonds between the monomers.
  • a polymer such as insulin is broken down into amino acids when hydrolysis reactions breaks the peptide bonds between the monomers.
  • a polymer such as RNA is broken down into nucleotides when hydrolysis reactions break the phosphodiester bonds between the monomers.
• GLUCOSE: glucose molecules can bind through enzyme action.

  • Has 6 carbons

  
• POLYMERS: molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together.

  • OH groups bind to form polymers