Chapter 3: ActivitiesActivity 3.2 Condensation and Hydrolysis Reactions |
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Condensation reactions occur in the
synthesis of biological molecules, including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and nucleic
acids. These reactions join smaller molecules into larger molecules. The smaller subunits
are called monomers, and the larger molecules formed from them are called polymers.
Hydrolysis reactions are the opposite of condensation reactions—they break apart
polymers. Digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and nucleic acids involves
hydrolysis of these polymers into their amino acid, monosaccharide, fatty acid, and
nucleotide monomers, respectively.
Condensation
Reactions Chapter 3, Section 3.3, The First Macromolecules |