Introduction to Biochemical Reactions:

Hydrolysis and Dehydration Synthesis

Important terms:
•Monomer- single molecule or
“building block” that can form
polymers
•Polymer- long/large molecule of
repeating monomers
•Polymerization- reactions forming a
polymer
Important Terms:
All chemical reactions within a living organism can be classified
as:
•Anabolic reaction- chemical reactions in which simpler
substances are combined to form more complex molecules. 
Anabolic reactions usually require energy. Anabolic reactions build
new molecules and/or store energy.
•Catabolic reaction- chemical reactions that result in the
breakdown of more complex organic molecules into simpler
substances. Release energy that is stored (in ATP) or used to drive
anabolic reactions.
 Hydrolysis (polymer->monomers)

• A chemical reaction that results in cleavage of a covalent bond with the

addition of a water molecule -(Hydro = water; lysis = break);
• a reaction process that breaks covalent bonds between monomers by the
addition of water molecules.
• A hydrogen from the water bonds to one monomer and the hydroxyl
bonds to the adjacent monomer. The covalent bond between these
monomers breaks and the larger molecule (polymer) is split into smaller
molecules (monomers)
• Releases energy – “catabolic”
Dehydration Synthesis (monomers-> polymer
“polymerization”)
*Note: your textbook describes Dehydration Synthesis as “Condensation”

•A chemical reaction that results in the formation of a covalent bond between

two molecules (“synthesis”) by removing a water molecule (“dehydration”)
•One monomer loses a hydroxyl (–OH), and the other monomer loses a
hydrogen (–H). (the H usually comes from a functional group)
•requires energy – “anabolic” reaction
•requires biological catalysts or enzymes.
Each of the four macromolecules (Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and
Nucleic Acids) use dehydration synthesis reactions to build polymers and
hydrolysis reactions to break polymers into monomers.