1.1 monomers and polymers

Question 1

What are monomers?

Answer 1

Smaller units from which larger molecules are made

Question 2

What are polymers?

Answer 2

Molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together

Question 3

What can polymers also be referred to as?

Answer 3

Macromolecules

Question 4

How are polymers formed?

Answer 4

When two or more monomers bond together through polymerisation (a condensation reaction)

Question 5

What effects the properties of polymers?

Answer 5

The length and type of monomers

Question 6

What are 3 examples of monomers and polymers?

Answer 6

Carbohydrates: monosaccharides (monomers) and polysaccharides (polymers)
Nucleotides: mononucleotide (monomer) and polynucleotide (polymer)
Proteins: amino acid (monomer) and peptide (polymer)

Question 7

How do bonds between two monomers form?

Answer 7

Through a condensation reaction
A hydroxyl group is removed from one monomer and a hydrogen from another
Water is produced as a by product

Question 8

How do polymers break apart?

Answer 8

Through a hydrolysis reaction.
The addition of a water molecule breaks the bonds between the monomers
The polymer is split into its constituent parts

Question 9

Why do polymers need to break apart?

Answer 9

Energy can be stored in polymer form within the cells
Therefore can be released when required