macromolecules and polymers

• Macromolecules


  complex molecules with a relatively large molecular mass. Examples of biological macromolecules include proteins, some carbohydrates and lipids.
• Most carbohydrates and all proteins are polymers.
• Polymers

  large, complex molecules composed of long chains of monomers joined together.
• Monomers 


  are small, basic molecular units. Examples of monomers include monosaccharides (see next page) and amino acids
• Most biological polymers are formed from their monomers by condensation reactions.
• condensation reaction


  forms a chemical bond between monomers, releasing a molecule of water
• Biological polymers can be broken down into monomers by hydrolysis reactions.
• hydrolysis reaction 


  breaks the chemical bond between monomers using a water molecule.