Biology – Carbohydrates and lipids | e-Consult

Monomer: A small, single building block molecule. It is the basic unit that can be linked to form larger molecules.

Polymer: A large molecule formed by the joining together of many smaller, identical or similar monomer subunits. The word 'polymer' literally means 'many parts'.

Macromolecule: A large molecule, typically formed by the polymerization of many monomers. Polymers are a type of macromolecule. Macromolecules are generally larger and more complex than polymers. They are essential for the structure and function of living organisms.

Relationship: A monomer is the building block of a polymer. A polymer is formed by linking many monomers together. Macromolecules are large molecules, and polymers are a significant class of macromolecules.