Dehydration synthesis

Definition

Dehydration synthesis is a chemical reaction where two molecules are joined together with the removal of a water molecule. It is essential in forming complex organic molecules like carbohydrates and proteins.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In dehydration synthesis, a water molecule is removed as two monomers join to form a polymer.
2. This process is crucial for the formation of glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates and peptide bonds in proteins.
3. Enzymes often facilitate dehydration synthesis reactions by lowering the activation energy required.
4. Dehydration synthesis reactions are anabolic, meaning they build larger molecules from smaller ones.
5. The opposite process, hydrolysis, breaks down polymers into monomers by adding a water molecule.

Review Questions

• What role does dehydration synthesis play in the formation of proteins?
• How does dehydration synthesis differ from hydrolysis?
• Why are enzymes important in dehydration synthesis reactions?

Related terms

Monomer: A small molecule that can bind to other similar molecules to form a polymer.

Polymer: A large molecule composed of repeating structural units (monomers).

Hydrolysis:

A chemical reaction that breaks down compounds by adding water.