Final answer:
A monomer is a small molecule that can bind to others to form a polymer; in biology, examples include glucose for carbohydrates and amino acids for proteins. Polymerization often occurs through dehydration synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
A monomer is a small molecule that joins together with others like it to form a larger molecule, known as a polymer. In biology, examples of monomers include monosaccharides, like glucose, which can be a monomer of complex carbohydrates. Within the context of proteins, amino acids are the monomers that join together to form polymers known as proteins.
Polymerization is the process where monomers join and may occur through a reaction known as dehydration synthesis, where water is released as a byproduct. For instance, when glucose monomers join to form starch or glycogen, a dehydration synthesis reaction is occurring, producing water and forming the polymer structure.