Question

How is water involved in the joining and separation of the monomers fatty acid, glycerol, amino acids, and nucleotides?

A) Water facilitates the breakdown of bonds between monomers.
B) Water is released during the formation of bonds between monomers.
C) Water acts as a catalyst in the joining of monomers.
D) Water inhibits the separation of monomers.

Answer 1

Water is released during dehydration synthesis, where monomers combine to form polymers, and is consumed in hydrolysis, where water molecules are used to split polymers into monomers.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water plays a crucial role in the processes of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis, which involve the joining and separation of monomers such as fatty acids, glycerol, amino acids, and nucleotides. During dehydration synthesis, which is the process of forming polymers, water is released when two monomers combine. One monomer donates a hydrogen atom, and the other donates a hydroxyl group, resulting in the formation of a covalent bond between them and the release of a water molecule. In contrast, hydrolysis involves the breaking down of polymers into monomers, where a water molecule is consumed. The water molecule splits and adds a hydrogen atom to one monomer and a hydroxyl group to another, effectively breaking the covalent bond holding the monomers together.