Polymer large molecule made by repetitive linking of smaller units (monomers) Macromolecule - very large molecule composed of thousands of covalently bonded atoms (ex: polymer) 1. natural (in nature) 2. synthetic (in lab) - two ways polymers are ma

Polymer- large molecule made by repetitive linking of smaller units (monomers) Macromolecule - very large molecule composed of thousands of covalently bonded atoms (ex: polymer) 1. natural (in nature) 2. synthetic (in lab) - two ways polymers are made rubber, carbs: starch & cellulose, proteins, nucleic acids DNA, RNA - natural polymers nylon, teflon, styrofoam, polyethylene, Dacron, - synthetic polymers 1. method of formation 2. final composition 3. stereochemical orientation - 3 main ways to differentiate polymers 1. chain-growth 2. step-growth - Two classifications of Synthetic polymers addition polymers - chain growth polymers are also know as: made by addition of one monomer unit to another in a repetitive pattern - How are chain growth polymers made? chain growth polymerization - A polymerization involving sequential addition to monomers that are unsaturated (C=C) or have some other reactive functional groups (particularly ethylene and derivatives) 1. intervention 2. consumption of all available monomers - what 2 things stops chain growth polymerization? Teflon - chain-growth polymer: polytetrafluoroethylene monomer: F2C=CF2 nonstick coating, goretex, electrical insulator, chem-resistant coating Saran - chain-growth polymer: polyvinylidenedichloride monomer: H2C=CCl2 cling-wrap Polypropylene - chain-growth polymer: polypropylene monomer: H2C=CHCH3 carpet fibers, car parts, toys, packaging, houseware Orlon, Acrilan, Creslan - chain-growth polymer: polyacrylonitrile monomer: H2C=CH(CN) textiles/fibers, carpets, upholstery Polyvinyl Acetate - chain-growth polymer: polyvinyl acetate monomer: H2C=CH(OCOCH3) elmers glue, silly putty, latex paints Polyvinyl alcohol - chain-growth polymer: polyvinyl alcohol monomer: H2C=CH(OH) eye med- artificial tears Plexiglass (Lucite) - chain-growth polymer: polymethylmethacrylate monomer: H2C=C9CH3)COOCH3 clear plastic sheets , blocks, and tubing the final polymer retains all of the atoms of the monomer - The defining characteristic of chain-growth polymers step growth polymerization - formed by the reaction between 2 different functional groups on different monomer molecules with the accompanying loss of some small molecule (typically water) The final polymer chain does NOT include all the atoms initially present in the monomer molecules - The defining characteristic of step-growth polymers condensation polymers - step-growth polymers also known as: typically di or polyfunctional - functionality of step-growth monomers