Table of Contents
It turns out that most polymers, both natural and synthetic, have mainly carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen as their most common elements. DNA and RNA also have phophorous, but we’ll leave that for a later discussion.
What molecules are polymers?
Essentials. Polymers are large molecules made up of long chains or networks of smaller molecules called monomers. Natural polymers include silk, hair, proteins and DNA, while synthetic (man-made) polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester.
What is the molecular structure of polymers?
A polymer is a very large molecule comprising hundreds or thousands of atoms, formed by successive linking of one or two, occasionally more, types of small molecules into chain or network structures. The concept of the polymer is one of the great ideas of twentieth century chemistry.
What are most polymers made from?
polymer A substance made from long chains of repeating groups of atoms. Manufactured polymers include nylon, polyvinyl chloride (better known as PVC) and many types of plastics. Natural polymers include rubber, silk and cellulose (found in plants and used to make paper, for example).
What are the types of polymers?
The seven most common types of synthetic organic polymers are: low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), nylon, Teflon, and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
Where can Polymers be found?
Natural polymers include:
- Proteins, such as hair, nails, tortoiseshell.
- Cellulose in paper and trees.
- Starches in plants such as potatoes and maize.
- DNA.
- Pitch (also known as bitumen or tar)
- Wool (a protein made by animals)
- Silk (a protein made by insects)
- Natural rubber and lacquer (proteins from trees)
What is the use of polymer?
Uses of polymers
| Polymer | Properties | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Poly(chloroethene) ‘PVC’ | Tough, electrical insulator, can be made hard or flexible | Insulation for electrical wires, windows, gutters, pipes |
| Poly(tetrafluoroethene) ‘PFTE’ | Slippery, chemically unreactive | Non-stick coatings for pans, containers for laboratory substances |
Which is not a type of polymer?
Synthetic polymers are classified on the basis of their origin and are known as man-made polymers i.e. they are not classified on the basis of its application or its properties. Remaining all other polymers like rubbers, plastic or fibers are classified on the basis of their properties. Was this answer helpful?
Is cotton a polymer?
Cotton fibers are the purest form of cellulose, nature’s most abundant polymer. Nearly 90% of the cotton fibers are cellulose.
Is cotton a synthetic polymer?
Polymers are of 2 types: 1)Natural polymers:Cotton,wool,silk. Cotton fibre is made of a natural polymer called cellulose. 2)Synthetic polymer:Nylon,polyester,acrylic,poly ethene,polyvinylchloride,bakelite,melamine.
Which is the best definition of a polymer?
A polymer is a very large, chain-like molecule made up of monomers, which are small molecules. It can be naturally occurring or synthetic. Since poly- means “many,” a polymer means “many parts.” You’ll find polymers everywhere: they’re what make spandex stretch and sneakers bounce.
Why are polymers bad?
Are polymers bad for you? The plastic polymers are not regarded as toxic, but there may be toxic residual chemicals, chemical additives and degradation products in the plastic products that can leach out as they are not bound to the plastic polymer. Plastics also cause many waste problems.
What are all polymers made of?
Polymers are materials made of long, repeating chains of molecules. The materials have unique properties, depending on the type of molecules being bonded and how they are bonded. Some polymers bend and stretch, like rubber and polyester. Others are hard and tough, like epoxies and glass.
What are the two types of polymers?
Polymers may be naturally found in plants and animals (natural polymers) or may be man-made (synthetic polymers). Different polymers have a number of unique physical and chemical properties due to which they find usage in everyday life.
Is wood a natural polymer?
Wood contains natural polymers such as lignin, cellulose, and various hemi- celluloses but has very different properties from the synthetic polymers with which it is most often combined.
Are proteins a polymer?
Proteins are polymers in which the 20 natural amino acids are linked by amide bonds.
Can you eat cotton?
The cotton balls can cause a blockage in your intestines that can cause pain and can potentially lead to a stay in the hospital if the blockage is severe. Besides the fact that eating cotton balls can be dangerous, there is no nutritional value to them.
What are polymers examples?
Examples of synthetic polymers include nylon, polyethylene, polyester, Teflon, and epoxy. Natural polymers occur in nature and can be extracted. They are often water-based. Examples of naturally occurring polymers are silk, wool, DNA, cellulose and proteins.
Is rubber a polymer?
Rubber is an example of an elastomer type polymer, where the polymer has the ability to return to its original shape after being stretched or deformed. The rubber polymer is coiled when in the resting state.
How polymers are formed?
Polymers are formed by two main ways called addition and condensation polymerization. In addition, polymerization, an initiator (or catalyst) reacts with a starting monomer. In condensation polymerization, a monomer with an exposed H (hydrogen) atom binds with a monomer with exposed OH (oxygen-hydrogen) atoms.
What are the 3 main types of polymers?
The most common way of classifying polymers is to separate them into three groups – thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers.
What polymer structure is the strongest?
Structure of Cross-Linked Polymers Because cross-linked polymers form covalent bonds that are much stronger than the intermolecular forces that attract other polymer chains, the result is a stronger and more stable material.
Is PVC a branched polymer?
2.3 Linear, Branched, and Crosslinked Polymers Polyethylene, PVC, nylon 66, and polymethyl methacrylate are some linear commercial examples found in this book. Branched polymers can be visualized as a linear polymer with side chains of the same polymer attached to the main chain.
Is DNA a polymer?
DNA consists of two long polymers (called strands) that run in opposite directions and form the regular geometry of the double helix. The monomers of DNA are called nucleotides. Nucleotides have three components: a base, a sugar (deoxyribose) and a phosphate residue.
