# Compare the roles of monomers and polymers in living organisms, and explain how a polymer can be converted back into its monomers.

> AQA A-Level Biology (7402) — 3.1.1 Monomers and Polymers · Compare · 5 marks

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. Monomers are small / individual molecules that are the building blocks (of polymers)
2. Polymers are large molecules made up of many monomers joined together
3. Polymers are used for storage / structural purposes in living organisms (e.g. starch stores energy / DNA stores genetic information / proteins form structures)
4. Polymers are broken down into monomers by hydrolysis
5. Water is used / added during hydrolysis to break the bonds between monomers

## Key terms

- [monomer](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/monomer)
- [polymer](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/polymer)

## Related

- [Revision notes for AQA A-Level Biology (7402)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Compare" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/compare-the-roles-of-monomers-and-11d49c09) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.