IB Biology

Hydrolysis and Condensation

Reactions
Glucose

Condensatio
n Maltose - a disaccharide made from two glucose molecules

Glucose

Hydrolysi
s
 Hydrolysis [ hydro (water) lysis (splitting)]
Splitting a chemical bond by the addition of water

The hydrolysis of maltose using water produces

two molecules of glucose
 A Hydrolysis Reaction
Drag the two glucose molecules out of the box below.
This is what Hydrolysis does

Glucose molecule

Glucose molecule

Maltose
Molecule

Can you see where the water

molecule is added. OH to one
and H to the other molecule.
A condensation reaction is when two molecules are
combined to form one single larger molecule, with
the loss of a water molecule.

e.g. A condensation reaction joins two glucose molecules to make

a single maltose molecule and a water molecule.
Glucose molecule

A Condensation Reaction Glucose molecule

Drag the two glucose molecules

into the box below to form a
disaccharide

Maltose
Molecule

Can you see the water

molecule which is
produced ?
 Biological Molecules can be joined together
to make bigger molecules
using condensation reactions
Fructose Sugar
Ribose Sugar - forms the backbone of DNA Important in fruit and sucrose

Glucose Maltose - a disaccharide made from two glucose molecules

 Very large Biological Molecules are made using
condensation reactions

l e c ule
mo
sta rch
rt o fa
pa
l o se-
Amy
The twisted, branched structure of Glycogen
which contains the branched molecule
amylopectin

Cellulose - a flat polysaccharide - this diagram shows just nine glucose rings
 Condensation and Hydrolysis Reactions

Monosaccharides Condensation
e.g. Glucose Disaccharide
e.g. Maltose
***
***
Three Fatty Acids &
a Glycerol molecule Triglyceride Molecule

*** ***

Amino Acids Dipeptide

Hydrolysis

... opposites of each other.

Condensation and Hydrolysis Reactions also form
Lipids.

Three Fatty Acid molecules & Glycerol

Condensation
Hydrolysis

Triglyceride Molecule
 A Triglyceride - 3 Fatty Acid chains and 1 Glycerol Molecule

Highlights the parts of each molecule

which react together

A saturated fatty acid

Glycerol

An unsaturated fatty acid

Water

Each condensation reaction produces a water molecule

 Two Amino Acid Molecules

Condensation
Hydrolysis

A Dipeptide Molecule
Condensation and Hydrolysis Reactions form proteins

This highlighted area shows the

peptide bond

The H from one amino acid joins the OH from another.

This links the two amino acids forms a peptide bond and a molecule of water.

OH group
H

Drag this amino acid to make the two

yellow highlights join together
and see for yourself.
 IB Style Questions

1. List three examples of Hydrolysis reactions in biological cells.

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2. Outline the role of condensation reactions in living things.

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3. Distinguish between hydrolysis and condensation reactions.

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4. Write a word equation for the formation of Lactose through a

condensation reaction joining glucose and galactose.
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