Monomers & Polymers

Created by

Areeba N

Cards (6)

Monomers
Single subunits/ building blocks of life (eg amino acids. Nucleotides, monosaccharides)
Polymers
Chains and complex molecules formed by combined monomers using covalent bonds in a repeating pattern (eg protein, DNA, starch)
Condensation Reactions
1. Formation: smaller biological molecules (e.g. sugars) in an organism's cells can form large molecules (e.g. carbohydrates) that can be used around the body. These biological molecules are important to allow the organism to survive. A more complex molecule by the removal of water is formed.
2. Condensation: the reaction that forms large biological molecules. The reaction releases water & bond the smaller components together into larger molecules
Products of Condensation
Of amino acids : proteins
Of 2 monosaccharides: disaccharides (many disaccharides : polysaccharides)
Of fatty acids and monoglycerides: lipids
Hydrolysis Reactions
1. Breakdown: Eating = ingesting large biological molecules (eg carbohydrates) which allow the organism to survive (the molecules can be used in cells for important reactions eg respiration but are too large to be transported into the cells) so must first be broken down. Larger molecules are broken down with the addition of water.
2. Hydrolysis: The reaction that breaks down large biological molecules. Requires water & splits larger molecules into their smaller components. The smaller molecules (eg glucose) can easily diffuse into cells or be transported sing protein channels
Products of Hydrolysis
Of proteins: amino acids
Of carbohydrates: monosaccharides & disaccharides
Of lipids : fatty acids & monoglycerides