Chapter 23, Problem 90A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The names of monomers should be listed which make up proteins, complex carbohydrates and nucleic acids.

Concept introduction:

A small molecule which reacts with other molecules to form a large molecule or polymers is known as monomers. Monomers bind with each other to form a repeating chain of molecules through polymerization process.

Answer to Problem 90A

Monomers which make up proteins are amino acids.

Monosaccharides are the building blocks of complex carbohydrates.

Nucleotides are the monomers of nucleic acids.

Explanation of Solution

Proteins are polymeric biomolecules which are formed by the polymerisation of amino acids. Amino acids are the organic molecules with $–{\text{NH}}_{\text{2}}$ and −COOH functional groups bonded on same carbon atom of the molecule.

Thus, monomers which make up proteins are amino acids.

A biological molecule which consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen is known as carbohydrate. The general formula of carbohydrate is ${{\text{(CH}}_{\text{2}}\text{O)}}_{\text{n}}$.

Monosaccharides known as simple sugar are the monomers which results in the formation of complex carbohydrates such as glucose (monomer).

Thus, monosaccharides are the building blocks of complex carbohydrates.

Organic molecules which consist of a nucleoside and a phosphate group are known as nucleotide. They are the monomers of the nucleic acid polymers such as DNA and RNA by linking three structures with each other into a chain form. It is the building block of nucleic acids.

Thus, nucleotides are the monomers of nucleic acids.