What is a polymer in chemistry BBC Bitesize?
Polymers are very large molecules made when many smaller molecules join together, end to end. The smaller molecules are called monomers. The polymers formed are called addition polymers.
What is a polymer simple definition?
polymer, any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of very large molecules, called macromolecules, that are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Polymers make up many of the materials in living organisms, including, for example, proteins, cellulose, and nucleic acids.
What is a polymer ks2?
A polymer is a molecule, made from joining together many small molecules called monomers. The word “polymer” can be broken down into “poly” (meaning “many” in Greek) and “mer” (meaning “unit”). Proteins have polypeptide molecules, which are natural polymers made from various amino acid monomer units.
What are polymers used for BBC Bitesize?
Polymer properties
| Polymer name | Typical use | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Poly(ethene) or polythene | Plastic bags | Strong and hard-wearing |
| PVC | Water pipes | Strong, hard-wearing, chemically unreactive |
| PVC | Outer layer of electric wires | Electrical insulator, hard-wearing |
| Nylon | Clothing | Can be made into fibres, strong and flexible |
Which is the best definition of polymer?
: a chemical compound or mixture of compounds formed by polymerization and consisting essentially of repeating structural units.
How do you explain polymers to kids?
Polymers are very big molecules made up of many smaller molecules layered together in a repeating pattern. In fact, the word polymer is Greek for ‘many parts. ‘ The smaller molecules that come together to form polymers are called monomers–small units that link together over and over to form a large polymer.
What are the two main types of polymers?
Polymers fall into two categories:
- thermosetting plastic or thermoset.
- thermoforming plastic or thermoplastic.