What are the basic building blocks that make up polymers called?

The basic building blocks that make up polymers are known as monomers. Monomers are small, single molecules that can chemically bond with other monomers to form larger, complex structures called polymers. This process of linking monomers is known as polymerization.

For example, in the case of proteins, the monomers are amino acids, while in carbohydrates, the monomers are simple sugars. Each type of polymer has specific monomers that contribute to its unique structure and function.

The other terms provided refer to different concepts or specific types of molecules. Oligomers are short chains of monomers, typically consisting of a few to several units, but they are not the most basic form. Dimers consist of exactly two monomers chemically bonded together, which is also a more specific case and not representative of all polymers. Polypeptides refer to chains of amino acids specifically, which are polymers themselves formed from the monomeric units of amino acids. Therefore, monomers are the foundational elements from which these larger structures, including polymers, are constructed.