2.5.22

Polymers

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Polymers

You use and rely on polymers every day, often without realising.

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Polymers

  • The word polymer is from the Greek word 'polumeros', which translates as 'many parts'.
  • Polymers can be extremely large molecules.
  • Polymers are made up of lots of other parts which are called monomers.
  • The monomers join together to form polymers.
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Types of polymer

  • There are two types of polymer:
    • Natural polymers.
    • Synthetic polymers.
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Natural polymers

  • Natural polymers are made from animals and plants. Examples include:
    • Cellulose.
    • DNA.
    • Proteins.
    • Cotton.
    • Wool.
    • Rubber.
    • Silk.
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Synthetic polymers

  • Synthetic polymers are manmade.
  • The majority of synthetic polymers are made from oil in different chemical reactions. Examples include:
    • Plastics.
    • Nylon.
    • Lycra.
  • Different chemical reactions will produce different synthetic polymers each with different properties.
  • Plastics can be designed with different properties in mind – which is why all types of plastic are different.

Jump to other topics

1Biology

1.1Cells, Tissues & Organs

1.2Reproduction & Variation

1.3Ecological Relationships & Classification

1.4Digestion & Nutrition

1.5Plants & Photosynthesis

1.6Biological Systems & Processes

2Chemistry

2.1Particles

2.2Chemical Reactions

2.3Atoms, Elements, Compounds

2.4The Periodic Table

2.5Materials & the Earth

2.6Reactivity

2.7Energetics

2.8Properties of Materials

3Physics

3.1Energy

3.2Forces & Motion

3.3Waves

3.4Electricity & Magnetism

3.5Matter

3.6Space Physics

4Thinking Scientifically

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