3.11 Monomers and polymers

Carbohydrates

Respiratory substrates which provide energy for cells, also used for structure in cell membranes and cell walls in plants

Lipids

Can be used as respiratory substrates which provide energy for cells, form a bilayer in cell membranes and make up some hormones

Proteins

Main component of many cellular structures, form enzymes and chemical messengers

Nucleic acids

Form polymers (DNA and RNA) which make up the genetic material of organisms. Code for the sequence of amino acids which make up all proteins

Condensation reaction

A condensation reaction joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond and involves the removal of a molecule of water

Monomers and polymers

Monomers are small or repeated molecules which can be joined together to make larger molecules called polymers.

Monomers are joined together into polymers by condensation reactions

Hydrolysis reaction

A hydrolysis reaction breaks a chemical bond between 2 molecules with the addition of a water molecule