Lesson 12:

Preparation of Selected Organic

Compound

(Dehydration Synthesis & Hydrolysis)

How Are Organic Compounds Formed?

Monomers = building blocks (units)

Polymers = a larger molecule made of repeating

subunits

Monomers link together to form polymers.

 Many small
molecules

One large molecule

Polymers:
Synthesis and Hydrolysis of Polymers
• The most important biological compounds are
polymers
• Poly means “many”
• Monomers are
a. MONOSACCHARIDES (SIMPLE SUGARS)
b. AMINO ACIDS
c. NUCLEOTIDES
d. FATTY ACIDS
Polymers are:
• made (DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS) or broken
down (HYDROLYSIS) over and over in living
cells
• Dehydration Synthesis = loss of water
• a.k.a. Condensation
• a.k.a. Polymerization
Background:
– Often organic molecule contain functional
groups containing carboxyl (COOH) or
hydroxyl groups (OH) or both.
– This is important because H and OH can be
found hanging off monomers

O
Monomer H Monomer
H
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration Synthesis

Water
released

What kind of bond is this?

Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration Synthesis
 Polymer Monomer
• Hydrolysis
• Hydro = water & lysis = loosening
• Water is added and breaks the covalent bonds
of polymers
• Requires hydrolytic enzymes

Enzymes lower
the activation
energy to speeds
up the reaction.

14
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis
Diagram of Synthesis vs. Hydrolysis
Monomers

Hydrolysis Synthesis
Reaction Reaction

H2 O H2 O
Polymer 19
Diagram of Synthesis vs. Hydrolysis
Monomers

Hydrolysis Synthesis
Reaction Reaction

H2 O H2 O
Polymer 20
 Types of Polymers
A. Proteins: Polymers of amino acids
B. Nucleic Acids(DNA, RNA): Polymers of nucleotides
C. Carbohydrates: Polymers of monosaccharides
D. Lipids: Polymers of fatty acids & glycerol

Organic compounds are also known as

MACROMOLECULES.
 Organic Molecules: Preview
Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids

Composition: C H O C H O C H O N C H O N P
(monosaccharide) (1 glycerol (amino acid) (nucleotide)
3 fatty acids)

Function: Maini source of Long term Structure/ Genetic code

energy/ Structure energy Builds and (DNA) or
storage/ repairs tissues/ immediate
Structure/ Catalysis energy (ATP)
Signalling

22
Assessment
1. Amino acid is to protein as
a. fat is to lipid.
b. DNA is to RNA.
c. sugar is to fat.
d. simple sugar is to starch.
2. Which of the following is NOT a
monomer?
a. a protein
b. a nucleotide
c. an amino acid
d. a glucose molecule
3. How does an enzyme speed up
a chemical reaction?
a. releasing energy
b. Absorbing energy
c. raising the activation energy
d. lowering the activation energy
4. Which of the following
molecules is made-up of glycerol
and fatty acids?
a. lipids
b. nucleic acids
c. protein
d. carbohydrates
5. Dehydration synthesis leads to
formation of
a. monomers
b. polymers