1. Monomers and Polymers Flashcards
1
Q
define a polymer
A
they are large, complex molecules composed of long chains of monomers joined together
2
Q
give three examples of monomers
A
nucleotides, monosaccharides, nucleic acids
3
Q
give examples of polymers
A
Most:
- carbohydrates
- proteins
- nucleic acids
4
Q
define a monomer
A
they are small, basic molecular units that can form a polymer
5
Q
describe how polymers can be broken down.
A
a hydrolysis reaction can hydrolyse polymers down into monomers, breaking the chemical bond between monomers using a water molecule
6
Q
describe how polymers are formed
A
most biological molecules are formed by a condensation reaction, where it forms a chemical bond between monomers, releasing a molecule of water
7
Q
A
