Final answer:
The formation of polymers from monomers involves dehydration synthesis, where monomers join by losing water, and hydrolysis, where polymers are broken down into monomers by adding water.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formation of polymers from monomers involves dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis. During dehydration synthesis, monomers link together by losing water molecules.
This process occurs when a hydrogen atom (H) from one monomer combines with a hydroxyl group (OH) from another monomer, releasing a molecule of water, while forming a covalent bond between the monomers.
This reaction also results in the growth of the polymer chain. Oppositely, hydrolysis is the breakdown of polymers into monomers, which happens when a water molecule is added across a bond, effectively splitting it.
This action introduces a hydrogen atom to one fragment of the polymer and a hydroxyl group to the other, leading to the polymer's division into monomers.
Nucleotide formation and denaturation are not directly involved in the polymerization process.