Monomers are added together for a dehydration synthesis reaction when what happens?

In a dehydration synthesis reaction, also known as a condensation reaction, two monomers are joined together to form a polymer, and during this process, a water molecule is removed. The correct understanding of this reaction involves the removal of specific functional groups: the hydroxyl group (OH) from one monomer and a hydrogen atom (H) from another monomer. This removal creates a covalent bond between the two monomers, effectively forming a larger molecule and releasing water as a byproduct.

This process not only helps in forming larger biological macromolecules, such as proteins, carbohydrates, and nucleic acids but also highlights the importance of water removal in the synthesis of complex biological structures. The combination of removing OH and H contributes fundamentally to the creation of new covalent bonds, illustrating how basic building blocks are intricately connected through biochemical reactions.