Monomers + Polymers

Question 1

Describe the chemical reactions involved in the conversion of polymers to monomers + monomers to polymers.

Give two named examples of polymers + their associated monomers to illustrate your answer. [5]

Answer 1

1) a condensation reaction joins monomers together by forming a chemical bond which releases water
2) e.g. nucleotides form polynucleotide
3) a hydrolysis reaction uses water to break down a chemical bond
4) e.g. starch broken down into α-glucose (5) as glycosidic bonds are broken

Question 2

What is a monomer?

Answer 2

• a molecule/repeat unit that makes up a polymer