Links nucleotide monomers into polynucleotides by removing a molecule of water

• A. Dehydration synthesis
• B. Hydrolysis
• C. Condensation
• D. Polymerization

Answer: (A)

Dehydration synthesis is at work when nucleotide monomers are joined to form polynucleotides. In this process, a water molecule is removed as each new phosphodiester bond forms between nucleotides, linking them into a long chain. This is a type of condensation reaction, specifically describing bond formation with water loss. Hydrolysis would instead add water to break bonds, not form them. Condensation describes the general idea of joining molecules with water release, but dehydration synthesis is the precise mechanism here. Polymerization is a broad term for making polymers but doesn’t specify how the bonds are formed.