Here's a breakdown:
* Polymer: A large molecule composed of many smaller, repeating structural units called monomers.
* Monomer: A small molecule that can join with other similar molecules to form a polymer.
Examples:
* Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA): Composed of repeating nucleotide monomers, each consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
* Proteins: Composed of repeating amino acid monomers, linked together by peptide bonds.
* Carbohydrates: Composed of repeating monosaccharide monomers, such as glucose and fructose.
Key points:
* Monomers join together to form polymers through dehydration synthesis: This process involves the removal of a water molecule.
* Polymers can be broken down into monomers through hydrolysis: This process involves the addition of a water molecule.
In essence, the ability of these large biological molecules to be built from repeating units is what makes them polymers.
