2.1.2b- Biological polymers

Question 1

What are monomers?

Answer 1

Monomers are small units from which larger molecules are made when they are repeated

Question 2

What are nucleotides made up of?

Answer 2

• A phosphate
• A pentose sugar
• A nitrogenous base

Question 3

What are polymers?

Answer 3

A polymer is a molecule made from repeating units of monomers joined together

Question 4

What is a condensation reaction?

Answer 4

A condensation reaction joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond and involves the elimination of a water molecule

Question 5

What is a hydrolysis reaction?

Answer 5

“hydro” means water and “lysis” means to break down. Therefore hydrolysis reactions break down chemical bonds and involve a water molecule

Question 6

Glycogen and monosaccharides:

Answer 6

A polymer such as glycogen is broken down into monosaccharides when hydrolysis breaks down the glycosidic bonds between the monomers

Question 7

RNA and nucleotides:

Answer 7

A polymer such as RNA is broken down into nucleotides when hydrolysis breaks down the phosphodiester bonds

Question 8

Insulin and amino acids

Answer 8

A polymer such as Insulin is broken down into amino acids when hydrolysis breaks down the peptide bonds between the monomers