section 2: biological molecules - topic 2: macromolecules & polymers Flashcards
what are macromolecules?
complex molecules with a relatively large molecular mass.
examples of macromolecules?
proteins.
some carbohydrates.
lipids.
polymers are a group of macromolecules.
what are polymers?
large, complex molecules composed of long chains of monomers joined together.
most carbohydrates and all proteins are polymers.
what are monomers?
small, basic molecular units.
examples of monomers?
monosaccharides.
amino acids.
how are polymers formed?
most biological polymers are formed from their monomers by condensation reactions.
what is a condensation reaction?
it forms a chemical bond between monomers, releasing a molecule of water.
how are polymers broken down?
biological polymers can be broken down into monomers by hydrolysis reactions.
what is a hydrolysis reaction?
it breaks the chemical bond between monomers using a water molecule.
