BSC 2010C Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Dehydration Reaction, Covalent Bond, Hydrogen Bond

• School: UCF
• Department: Biology
• Course: BSC 2010C
• Professor: Pamela Thomas

Document Summary

Polymer: a long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together by covalent bonds. Monomers: the subunit that serves as the building block of a polymer. While each class of polymer is made up of different monomers, the chemical mechanisms that cells make and break polymers is the same. Enzymes: a macromolecule serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction. This reaction is repeated as monomers are added to the chain one by one, making a polymer. Hydrolysis: a chemical reaction that breaks bonds between two molecules by the addition of water; functions in disassembly of polymers to monomers: reverse of dehydration reaction. The bond between monomers is broken by a water molecule, with a hydrogen attaching to the monomer and the hydroxyl group attaching to the other. Molecules are constructed from 40 to 50 common monomers. There are many varieties because the arrangement is key.