Final answer:
Polymers are formed from monomers through dehydration synthesis, releasing water, and they are broken down into monomers by hydrolysis, where water is added to break the bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formation and Breakdown of Polymers
Polymers are formed through a reaction known as dehydration synthesis, which is also referred to as a condensation reaction. In this process, monomers combine to form a polymer and release water as a byproduct. Each monomer contributes to the formation of the polymer's backbone by giving up elements that together form water (H2O); one monomer loses a hydrogen atom (H+) and the other loses a hydroxyl group (OH-). Conversely, polymers are broken down into monomers through hydrolysis reactions, where water is used to break the bonds. During hydrolysis, a water molecule is split, and its components (hydrogen atom and hydroxyl group) are added to the monomers that were part of the polymer, thus separating them.
Understanding the formation and breakdown of polymers helps explain key biological processes, such as the digestion of carbohydrates and the synthesis of complex molecules in cells. It also elucidates how synthetic polymers are produced and recycled.