1.3 Introduction to Macromolecules

Monomers

the repeating units that make up polymers

might say sub unit

Polymers

chain like macromolecules of similar or identical repeating units that are covalently bonded together

Four macromolecules

Carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids

Carbohydrates,proteins, and nucleic acids are polymers but lipids are not because they don’t include true polymers and are hydrophobic molecules

Dehydration reaction

covalently bonds two monomers with the loss of H2O

The OH of one monomer bonds to the H of another monomer forming H2O, which is then released

A hydrogen ion is removed from one monomer and a hydroxyl group is removed from the other

This causes the loss of the equivalent of a water molecule from the reactants and the connection of the two remaining monomers.

The connection of many monomers is known as polymerization.

A+b—> AB + H2O

Hydrolysis

breaks the covalent bonds in a polymer by adding H2O

One H of the H2O bonds to one monomer and the remaining OH of the H2O attaches to the other monomer

This type of reaction breaks down molecules into smaller molecules

When water is added to the bond between monomers in a polymer, the bond is broken

The hydrogen ion from a water molecule is added to one monomer and the hydroxyl group of the water molecule is added to the other monomer, completing the reaction

AB+H2O—> A + B