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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of phospholipids in a cell?
What is the primary function of phospholipids in a cell?
Which type of reaction is the reverse of a dehydration reaction?
Which type of reaction is the reverse of a dehydration reaction?
What is the term for the process by which monomers are linked together to form a polymer?
What is the term for the process by which monomers are linked together to form a polymer?
Which type of reaction involves the formation of a new bond with the removal of water?
Which type of reaction involves the formation of a new bond with the removal of water?
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What is the role of enzymes in biological reactions?
What is the role of enzymes in biological reactions?
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What is the term for the breakdown of a polymer into its monomers?
What is the term for the breakdown of a polymer into its monomers?
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What is the result of a dehydration reaction?
What is the result of a dehydration reaction?
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What is the primary function of carbohydrates in a cell?
What is the primary function of carbohydrates in a cell?
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Which type of reaction involves the breakdown of a molecule with the addition of water?
Which type of reaction involves the breakdown of a molecule with the addition of water?
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What is the term for the process by which water is added to break a bond?
What is the term for the process by which water is added to break a bond?
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Study Notes
Polymers and Monomers
- Polymers are large biological molecules composed of smaller molecules called monomers
- Monomers are the building blocks of polymers, and different types of monomers form different classes of polymers
Synthesis of Polymers
- Polymerization is the process of forming polymers from monomers
- This process is facilitated by enzymes, which speed up chemical reactions
- The reaction that connects a monomer to another monomer or a polymer is a condensation reaction
- In a condensation reaction, two molecules are covalently bonded to each other with the loss of a small molecule (dehydration reaction)
- Examples of polymer synthesis include carbohydrate and protein polymers
Breakdown of Polymers
- The breakdown of polymers into monomers is called hydrolysis
- Hydrolysis is the reverse of the dehydration reaction
- A water molecule is added to break the bond between monomers, with a hydrogen from water attaching to one monomer and a hydroxyl group attaching to the other
- Examples of hydrolysis include digestion, where enzymes break down polymers into monomers
Diversity of Macromolecules
- The diversity of macromolecules in the living world is vast and effectively limitless
- This diversity is due to the arrangement of monomers, with the linear sequence of units determining the characteristics of the polymer
- Despite being constructed from a limited number of monomers, the possible variety of polymers is enormous
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Description
Learn about the molecular differences between individuals and species, and how polymers are formed and disassembled through hydrolysis.
