the variety of life

Question 1

what are monomers?

Answer 1

monomers are small molecules that can bond with other identical molecules to form polymers. They are small units from which bigger molecules are made

Question 2

what are polymers?

Answer 2

polymers are large molecules made up of the repetition of smaller chemical units (monomers) joined by chemical bonds

Question 3

what are examples of monomers?

Answer 3

monosaccharides, amino acids and nucleotides

Question 4

what are examples of polymers?

Answer 4

protein, DNA and starch

Question 5

what molecules are produced by a condensation polymerisation reaction?

Answer 5

some polymers

Question 6

what is a condensation reaction?

Answer 6

a reaction that joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond

Question 7

what happens when a condensation polymerisation reaction occurs?

Answer 7

a small molecule, typically water, is produced as a by-product

Question 8

what is hydrolysis?

Answer 8

hydrolysis is the breaking of chemical bonds between two molecules due to a reaction with water