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.

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

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