Monomers & Polymers

• 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