Final answer:
Polymers are assembled through dehydration synthesis, where monomers release water as they bond, and disassembled through hydrolysis, where a water molecule is added to break the bonds between monomers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Formation and Breakdown of Polymers
Polymers are large molecules formed when monomers, small and simpler molecules, link together through a process called dehydration synthesis or condensation reactions. During dehydration synthesis, each monomer releases a small molecule, usually water, resulting in the formation of a new bond and the fusion of monomers into a polymer chain. Specifically, one monomer releases a hydrogen atom (H+), and another releases a hydroxyl group (OH-), with these two constituents combining to form a molecule of water (H2O).
Conversely, polymers can be broken down into monomers via a process known as hydrolysis. This process involves the addition of a water molecule to a polymer, which breaks the covalent bonds linking the monomers. In this reaction, the polymer is split into two components: one monomer gains a hydrogen atom from the water, and the other gains a hydroxyl group, effectively severing the bond between them and resulting in the disassembly of the polymer into individual monomers.
These reactions are critical for the synthesis and degradation of various biological macromolecules, such as carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids, which are essential for life. Dehydration synthesis is necessary for the formation of complex structures from simpler units, while hydrolysis allows the breakdown of those structures when needed.