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What is polymer?

Updated: 12/12/2022
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10y ago

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nothing

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Lydia Schulist

Lvl 13
1y ago
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10y ago

Polymer is a large, complex molecule built from smaller molecules joined together in a repeating pattern.
poly means many, mer means part these words are from greek language. example for polymer are polyethene etc

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14y ago

Polymerisation is a process in which small units called monomers are combined to form a large macromolecule called a polymer.

There are two main types of polymerisation, they are addition polymerisation and condensation polymerisation.

Addition polymerisation involves the addition of monomers together across the unsaturated state of each other to produce a long chain. The monomers usually become saturated after the polymerisation process as can be seen through the addition polymerisation of ethylene:

The addition polymerisation of ethylene to produce polyethylene (common plastic):

n(H2C=CH2) -> n(-H2C-CH2-) -> -(-H2C-CH2-)-n

Condensation polymerisation involves the reaction of the functional group located within the monomer in order to combine them to produce a long chain. The reaction of the functional group releases a small molecule such as water as seen through the condensation polymerisation of glucose to produce cellulose.

The condensation polymerisation of glucose to produce cellulose:

n(C6H1206) -> n(HO-C6H10O4-OH) -> -(-O-C6H10O4-)-n + (n-1)H20

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