Table of Contents
What is a polymer GCSE chemistry?
Polymers are very large molecules made when many smaller molecules join together, end to end. The smaller molecules are called monomers. In general: lots of monomer molecules → a polymer molecule. The polymers formed are called addition polymers.
What is polymer in simple word?
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.
What is a polymer organic chemistry?
Polymers are long chain, giant organic molecules are assembled from many smaller molecules called monomers. Polymers consist of many repeating monomer units in long chains, sometimes with branching or cross-linking between the chains. Starch, cellulose, and rubber all possess polymeric properties.
How is a polymer 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 examples of polymers?
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.
What are 4 types of polymers?
Terms. Synthetic polymers are human-made polymers. From the utility point of view, they can be classified into four main categories: thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and synthetic fibers.
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.
What’s another word for polymer?
In this page you can discover 16 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for polymer, like: nanocomposites, thermoplastic, semiconductor, coating, , polymeric, polymers, elastomer, , nanoparticles and nanostructures.
What are the 3 main types of polymers?
There are 3 principal classes of polymers – thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. Differentiation between these classes is best defined by their behaviour under applied heat. Thermoplastic polymers can be either amorphous or crystalline. They behave in a relatively ductile manner but often have low strength.
Who is called the father of polymer chemistry?
Completed his doctorate at 22, appointed professor at 26, received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry at 72 – an impressive career: Hermann Staudinger, the father of polymer chemistry, was born exactly 136 years ago.
What is the first polymer found?
In 1907 Leo Baekeland invented the first polymer made independent of the products of organisms, a thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde resin called Bakelite.
Which is an example of a biological polymer?
They are produced by polymerization, and occur either naturally or synthetically. Examples of natural polymers are cellulose, shellac and amber. Biopolymers such as proteins and nucleic acids play crucial roles in biological processes. A polymer produced by a living organism is called a biopolymer.
Is DNA a polymer?
And even our DNA is a polymer—it’s made of monomers called nucleotides. The first man-made polymers were actually modified versions of these natural polymers.
Why are polymers bad?
The monomers that are used to make polymers, though, are often toxic or stinky. That means that the companies that make polymers need to be very careful not to let the monomers get out before they’re made into polymers.
Which is the best definition of 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.
What are the two types of polymers?
Polymers fall into two categories: thermosetting plastic or thermoset. thermoforming plastic or thermoplastic.
Is cotton a polymer?
Cotton is a polymer which is made up of cellulose. Cellulose is a carbohydrate which is also a polymer of repeated chains of glucose.
What are the characteristics of polymer?
Some of the useful properties of various engineering polymers are high strength or modulus to weight ratios (light weight but comparatively stiff and strong), toughness, resilience, resistance to corrosion, lack of conductivity (heat and electrical), color, transparency, processing, and low cost.
What are the classification of polymers?
The most common way of classifying polymers is to separate them into three groups – thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. The thermoplastics can be divided into two types – those that are crystalline and those that are amorphous.
What is an example of a lipid polymer?
Lipids: water-insoluble molecules that can be classified as fats, phospholipids, waxes, and steroids. Fatty acids form complex polymers such as triglycerides, phospholipids, and waxes. Steroids are not considered true lipid polymers because their molecules do not form a fatty acid chain.
What are the benefits of polymers?
Polymers are more resistant to chemicals than their metal counterparts. Polymer parts do not require post-treatment finishing efforts, unlike metal. Polymer and composite materials are up to ten times lighter than typical metals. Polymers are naturally radar absorbent as well as thermally and electrically insulating.
Can we live without polymers?
Either way, both natural and synthetic polymers play a huge role in everyday life, and a life without polymers might actually not exist. Cells build our bodies, and cells are built of polymers. Plants are built of cellulose, which is a polymer. If polymers would suddenly disappear, life would disappear with it.
What is a polymer in medicine?
Both natural and synthetic polymers are used in medical. prosthetic applications like heart valves, stents, cartilage scaffolds, joints, making of artificial skin, blood vessels, Urinary catheters, ureteral stents, artificial kidney/Hemodialysis membranes and also in nano systems for drug delivery.
Is polymer a Greek word?
As noted in an earlier column, the term “polymer” (from the Greek polys meaning “many” and meros meaning “part”) was first introduced in 1833 by the Swedish chemist, Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1, 2).
How do you use polymer in a sentence?
Polymer in a Sentence 🔉 The scientist will combine molecules to create a synthetic polymer. Since we had to bring a polymer to class, I brought in a rubber ball. A protein is an organic polymer because it occurs naturally and is made of a combination of linked molecules.
