Final answer:
The statement is true; altering the natural wave pattern of hair involves breaking and reforming disulfide bonds, which are strong covalent bonds between cysteine amino acids in the hair's keratin protein.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the side bonds of the hair must be broken in order to change the natural wave pattern of the hair is true. Disruption and reformation of disulfide bonds are crucial for altering hair's natural wave or curl.
These strong covalent bonds are formed between sulfur atoms in the amino acid cysteine, which is a component of the protein keratin in hair.
In the permanent wave process, a chemical reducing agent, typically ammonium thioglycolate, is used to break down disulfide bonds, allowing the hair to take on a new shape. Once the hair reaches the desired form, it is subjected to an oxidation process, which helps to re-establish new disulfide bonds, hence setting the hair in its new pattern.
By contrast, temporary waves are created by manipulating hydrogen bonds, which are weaker and can be reformed by applying water and heat. They allow for a new hair shape that lasts only until the hair is washed or exposed to enough humidity that the hydrogen bonds revert to their original arrangement.
The answer to the multiple-choice question is option (a), as covalent bonds, which include disulfide bonds, are indeed stronger than hydrogen bonds. This contributes to the more enduring nature of changes made to disulfide bonds, such as in permanent waving, compared to temporary styling.