Which term describes macromolecules formed by covalently linking many monomer units?

• A. Monomers
• B. Polymers
• C. Isomers
• D. Copolymers

Answer: (B)

Macromolecules formed by covalently linking many small units are polymers. A polymer arises when monomer units join together through covalent bonds in a process called polymerization, building a long chain or network. The monomer is the individual building block, so it’s not the whole macromolecule itself. Isomers are molecules with the same formula but different arrangements, so they describe structure rather than polymerization. Copolymers are polymers made from two or more different monomers, which is a specific type of polymer, not the general term for all such large molecules. Examples include proteins (amino acids linked by peptide bonds), nucleic acids (nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds), and polysaccharides like starch (glucose units linked by glycosidic bonds).