What term describes a molecule that is able to bond in long chains?

Prepare for your College Biology Exam 1 with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Test your understanding with detailed explanations and hints to ensure success in your biology exam!

Multiple Choice

What term describes a molecule that is able to bond in long chains?

Explanation:
A monomer is the building block that can bond to form long chains. In biology, many large molecules are polymers made up of repeating monomer units joined together by covalent bonds. The term polymer describes the chain itself, not the ability to bond. Proteins and carbohydrates are examples of polymers built from amino acids or sugar monomers, respectively. So the molecule that can bond to create those long chains is the monomer, the unit that links to form the polymer. For instance, amino acids are monomers that assemble into proteins, and glucose is a monomer that can form starch or cellulose.

A monomer is the building block that can bond to form long chains. In biology, many large molecules are polymers made up of repeating monomer units joined together by covalent bonds. The term polymer describes the chain itself, not the ability to bond. Proteins and carbohydrates are examples of polymers built from amino acids or sugar monomers, respectively. So the molecule that can bond to create those long chains is the monomer, the unit that links to form the polymer. For instance, amino acids are monomers that assemble into proteins, and glucose is a monomer that can form starch or cellulose.

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