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Chapter 5: Q5.1-2CC. (page 68)

How many molecules of water are needed to completely hydrolyze a polymer that is ten monomers long?

Short Answer

Expert verified

Nine water molecules are required to hydrolyze a ten-monomer long polymer completely.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of hydrolysis

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction that uses water to break down polymers into monomers. It releases energy by breaking bonds. As a result, it is the opposite of the condensation reaction, which involves releasing water during the synthesis of material.

02

Chemistry of hydrolysis

The polymer is broken down into two components during hydrolysis. A water molecule is added during this process, which breaks the connection between the monomers of a polymer.

During hydrolysis, the hydrogen from water connects to one monomer while the hydroxyl group attaches to the other. For example, when carbohydrates are hydrolyzed, the connection between monosaccharide units is broken, and the monosaccharide units are released.

03

Number of monomers required to break the polymer

One water molecule is needed to break each bond present between two adjacent monomers in a polymer during hydrolysis.

A ten-monomer long polymer comprises nine bonds because two adjacent monomers are joined through a bond. Thus, nine water molecules are required to hydrolyze ten-monomers long polymer.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The molecular formula for glucose is\({C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6}\). What would be the molecular formula for a polymer by linking ten glucose molecules together by dehydration reactions?

(A)\({C_{60}}{H_{120}}{O_{60}}\)

(B)\({C_{60}}{H_{102}}{O_{51}}\)

(C)\({C_{60}}{H_{100}}{O_{50}}\)

(D)\({C_{60}}{H_{111}}{O_{51}}\)

The enzyme amylase can break glycosidic linkages between glucose monomers only if the monomers are in the α form. Which of the following could amylase break down?

(A) glycogen, starch, and amylopectin

(B) glycogen and cellulose

(C) cellulose and chitin

(D) starch, chitin, and cellulose

Where would you expect a polypeptide region rich in the amino acids valine, leucine, and isoleucine to be located in a folded polypeptide? Explain.

Enzymes that break down DNA catalyze the hydrolysis of the covalent bonds that join nucleotides together. What would happen to DNA molecules treated with these enzymes?

(A) The two strands of the double helix would separate.

(B) The phosphodiester linkages of the polynucleotide backbone would be broken.

(C) The pyrimidines would be separated from the deoxyribose sugars.

(D) All bases would be separated from the deoxyribose sugars.

Construct a table that organizes the following terms and label the columns and rows.

Monosaccharides Polypeptides Phosphodiester linkages

Fatty acids Triacylglycerols Peptide bonds

Amino acids Polynucleotides Glycosidic linkages

Nucleotides Polysaccharides Ester linkages
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