What are dehydration synthesis reactions?

1 Answer
Meave60
Sep 9, 2014

Dehydration synthesis reactions are reactions in which molecules combine by the removal of a H atom and an OH group between them, which together form a molecule of water, #"H"_2"O"#. Therefore, a new molecule is synthesized while the reacting molecules lose a molecule of water (dehydration) between them.

For example, the formation of maltose (malt sugar) from two molecules of glucose is a dehydration synthesis.

enter image source here

Most biomolecules, such as carbohydrates, triglycerides, proteins, and nucleotides are formed in this way.

Related questions
See all questions in Synthesis Reactions
Impact of this question
35154 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License