Which term refers to a very large molecule made of many smaller molecules bonded together?

• A. Monomer
• B. Polymer
• C. Amino Acid
• D. Carboxyl Group

Answer: (B)

A large molecule formed by linking many repeating units is called a polymer. The key idea is that polymers grow by joining together many small subunits, called monomers, into long chains or networks. This linking happens through covalent bonds, creating a big, complex molecule made up of repeated units.

Polymers show up all around you: DNA and proteins are biological polymers, while starch and plastic are common nonliving examples. A monomer is just one building block; many of these blocks come together to form the polymer. An amino acid is a type of monomer that builds proteins, so it’s not the name for the whole big molecule. A carboxyl group is a functional group found in many molecules, but it’s not describing a large molecule made from many pieces.