What term describes molecules that have the potential to bond to other identical molecules through chemical reactions?

What term describes molecules that have the potential to bond to other identical molecules through chemical reactions?

• A. Polymers
• B. Oligosaccharides
• C. Nucleotides
• D. Monomers

Answer: (D)

The key idea is building blocks that can join with others to form larger molecules. A monomer is a single unit that can react with another identical unit to form covalent bonds, enabling polymerization. When many monomers link, they create a polymer. This distinguishes the building block from the product (a polymer) or from specific types of polymers (like oligosaccharides, which are short sugar chains, or nucleotides, which are the units that compose nucleic acids). While nucleotides are the units that form nucleic acids, the general term for a unit capable of bonding to others of the same kind is monomer. Therefore, the term described is monomer.

The key idea is building blocks that can join with others to form larger molecules. A monomer is a single unit that can react with another identical unit to form covalent bonds, enabling polymerization. When many monomers link, they create a polymer. This distinguishes the building block from the product (a polymer) or from specific types of polymers (like oligosaccharides, which are short sugar chains, or nucleotides, which are the units that compose nucleic acids). While nucleotides are the units that form nucleic acids, the general term for a unit capable of bonding to others of the same kind is monomer. Therefore, the term described is monomer.