Question

1. Describe a condensation reaction.

Answer 1

Hey! Its Skye Here! Hope this helps!
Condensation is a chemical process by which 2 molecules are joined together to make a larger, more complex, molecule, with the loss of water.
It is the basis for the synthesis of all the important biological macromolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids) from their simpler sub-units.

It is important not to get condensation and hydrolysis muddled up, as they are in fact opposite processes! Condensation is so called because the product is drawn together from two other substances, in effect getting smaller by losing water. It does not give off water to condense and run down the window!

In all cases of condensation, molecules with projecting -H atoms are linked to other molecules with projecting -OH groups, producing H2O, ( H.OH ) also known as water, which then moves away from the original molecules.

A-H + B-OH --> A-B + H2O