Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers. They are diverse and include proteins, plastics, and human DNA. Polymerization is the process of bonding monomers together, often with the help of catalysts. Polymers can be straight or branched, and copolymers can contain multiple monomers. They have high molecular weight and can consist of billions of atoms. Polymers are used in many applications and continue to be an area of research and development.
Polymers are molecules made up of a long repeating chain of smaller units called monomers. They have the highest molecular weight of all molecules and can consist of billions of atoms. Human DNA is a polymer with over 20 billion constituent atoms. Proteins, made up of amino acids, and many other molecules that make up life are polymers. They are the largest and most diverse class of molecules known and also include plastics.
Monomers are molecules typically around 4-10 atoms in size and are reactive in that they easily bond with other monomers in a process called polymerization. Polymers and their curing processes are so diverse that there are several systems for classifying them. One important type is condensation polymerization, in which the reacting molecules release water as a byproduct. This is the medium by which all proteins are formed.
Polymers are not always straight chains of regular repeating monomers; sometimes, they consist of chains of varying lengths, or even chains that branch out in multiple directions. Residual monomers are often found alongside the polymers they create, giving the molecules additional properties. Getting monomers to bond together in certain configurations requires a variety of catalysts, secondary molecules that speed up reaction times. Catalysts are the basis of most synthetic polymer production.
In copolymerization, chains are formed that contain two or more different monomers. Larger, more complex polymers tend to have higher melting points and tensile strengths than others, due to the wealth of intermolecular forces acting between their constituents. Some molecules are so complex that they cannot be easily identified, so techniques such as wide angle X-ray scattering, small angle X-ray scattering, and small angle neutron scattering are employed.
Most polymers are organic and use carbon bonds as a backbone. Others use silicon. Due to their great diversity, there are many that have yet to be discovered, providing a fruitful field for further research and development.
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