What does the name polymer mean?
By definition, polymers are large molecules made by bonding (chemically linking) a series of building blocks. The word polymer comes from the Greek words for “many parts.” Each of those parts is scientists call a monomer (which in Greek means “one part”). Think of a polymer as a chain, with each of its links a monomer.
What does the word polymer mean in Greek?
many
Answer. As noted in an earlier column, the term “polymer” (from the Greek polys meaning “many” and meros meaning “part”) was first introduced in 1833 by the Swedish chemist, Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1, 2).
What is the purpose of a polymer?
Organic polymers play a crucial role in living things, providing basic structural materials and participating in vital life processes . For example, the solid parts of all plants are made up of polymers. These include cellulose, lignin, and various resins.
What are three common polymers?
Most chemical compounds in biological systems are polymer compounds. These natural polymers are mainly found in three types as polysaccharides, polyamides, and polynucleotides. Polysaccharides include polymers that are composed of monosaccharide units. The most common monosaccharides are glucose, fructose, galactose, etc.
What is the job of a polymer?
Polymers are used in everything from seed coats to enhance germination to containers holding fresh produce in the grocery store; from mulch films to control weeds and conserve water to plastic pots in greenhouses.
What are polymers and some types of polymers?
Types of Polymers. Addition polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(vinyl chloride), and polystyrene are linear or branched polymers with little or no cross-linking. As a result, they are thermoplastic materials, which flow easily when heated and can be molded into a variety of shapes.