Briefly describe how the process of dehydration synthesis creates polymers.
Dehydration synthesis, also known as condensation reaction, is the process through which polymers are formed by joining monomer units together. In this process, a polymer is created by removing a water molecule from the monomers and then linking them together.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how dehydration synthesis creates polymers:
1. Monomer Units: Polymers are made up of small monomer units, which are the building blocks of the polymer chain.
2. Removal of Water: Dehydration synthesis occurs by removing a molecule of water (H2O) from between two monomer units. One monomer provides a hydroxyl group (-OH), and the other monomer provides a hydrogen atom (-H). These components combine to form a water molecule, leaving a bond between the two monomers.
3. Formation of Covalent Bonds: With the loss of water, a covalent bond forms between the two monomers. This covalent bond is often referred to as a peptide bond in the case of protein formation or a glycosidic bond in the case of carbohydrate formation.
4. Repeat Process: The process of removing water and linking monomers is repeated multiple times, extending the polymer chain.
5. Polymer Formation: As more and more monomers come together and more water molecules are removed, the polymer chain grows longer and becomes a complete polymer.
Overall, dehydration synthesis is the key process through which polymers are created by removing water and forming covalent bonds between monomers. This process can be seen in various biological structures such as proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.