Compare and contrast synthesis reactions with decomposition reactions.

Synthesis and decomposition reactions are often the reverse of each other. Synthesis reactions consume energy (are endothermic), whereas decomposition reactions release energy (are exothermic). Synthesis reactions often release water molecules in a process called dehydration synthesis, whereas decomposition reactions often consume water molecules in a process called hydrolysis. Finally, decomposition reactions break large macromolecules into their component monomers, which can then be used in synthesis reactions to build new macromolecules for use by the cell, whereas synthesis reactions utilize component monomers to build larger molecules.