Polymers

Polymers

1. Made up of monomers.

   • Connected by covalent chemical bonds.

2. Large number of the same units.

3. 1 type of monomer: homopolymer.

4. 2 or more types of monomers: copolymers.

5. Natural polymers

   • Examples: Nucleic acids (DNA) and proteins.
     • Starch, cellulose and glycogen. Also latex found in the sap of some plants.
   • Structural roles / Physiological functions / Control of cellular operations: growth, replicaron and metabolism.

6. Synthetic polymers

   • Derived from petroleum.
   • The most common are plastics such as nylon and polyethylene.
   • Polymers made out of glycolic and lactic acids are mainly used in biomedics.
   • Smart polymers react to their surroundings, that is why they are used in biomedicine and some technology.

7. Formation of polymers

   • Bonding of monomers
   • Condensation
     • Functional groups are lost to form the polymer. It is also known as dehydration.
   • Addition
     • The double bond of monomers disappear and join with others to form the polymer.

8. A kind of polymers

   • Thermoplastic
     • They can be softened with heat and then reformed.
   • Thermosetting
     • Heat can not soften them and can't be reformed.