Monomers + Polymers Flashcards
What do carbs, proteins and lipids all contain?
Carbon
What are organic molecules?
Carbon containing substances such as carbs, protein and lipids
Why are carbon atoms unusual?
They can form 4 chemical bonds
What can carbon atoms bond with?
2
Other carbon atoms
Atoms of other elements
What are macromolecules?
A molecule containing a large number of atoms
Where are macromolecules often found?
In organic molecules
What are monomers?
Individual molecules that can be bonded to other identical or similar molecules to form a polymer
How do monomers join together?
By condensation
What is condensation?
A chemical reaction where one monomer joins to another and a water molecule is removed
How can polymers be broken down?
By hydrolysis
What is hydrolysis?
When water molecules are added in the process of breaking bonds between molecules
What is hydrolysis the opposite of?
Why?
Condensation
Because it adds -H and -OH from a molecule of water
Carbon can form 4 bonds. What does this therefore enable carbon to do?
It allows many carbon atoms to be bonded together to form more complex molecules
What does carbon act as?
The backbone for organic molecules that are found in all living things
What are polymers?
Long chains that are composed of many individual monomers that have been bonded together in a repeating pattern
