Biological Molecules: -


Monomers and Polymers

I must admit I did skip this section when revising last year and to my fault of understanding this was the foundation for my learning.


I made this mistake so you guys don't!
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So what is a monomer?

"A monomer is smaller units from which larger molecules are made." 

Monomers are important in the formation of other polymers. For example,

Glucose + Glucose = Maltose

This an example of monosaccharides. Other examples of monomers =
- amino acids
- nucleotides.

So what is a polymer?

"A polymer is molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together." 

In order for the polymers to be formed there would need to be bonds between the molecules to hold the structure together, right?


  ← this shows the structure of monomers and polymers which is always useful to know :) 


How do monomers lead to the formation of polymers?


When monomers join together, a condensation reaction occurs which forms a chemical bond and involves the elimination of a water molecule. Thus forming a polymer!

How do polymers break down to then form monomers?

A hydrolysis reaction!!

This is when the chemical bond between two molecules is broken through the use of a water molecule.