Polymer

Large molecule made of repeating monomer units.

A polymer is a large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of repeating structural units called monomers.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɒlɪmər/

Etymology

The term 'polymer' is derived from the Greek words 'poly' meaning 'many' and 'meros' meaning 'part'.

Explain Like I’m 5

Polymers are like long chains made of smaller, repeating pieces called monomers - think of a necklace where each bead is a monomer and the whole necklace is a polymer.

Fun Facts

Natural polymers include cotton, wool, and rubber
Synthetic polymers are created in labs, like nylon and polyester
The word 'polymer' comes from Greek words meaning 'many parts'

FAQ

What are polymers? Large molecules made of repeating units
What is a monomer? The small building block that makes up a polymer
Where are polymers found? They're in plastics, rubber, and even your own DNA

Synonyms — Similar or Related Terms

macromolecule

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

macromolecule chemical substance

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

plastics nylon polyester rubber

Meronyms — Parts or Components

monomer

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

plastics synthetic materials

Indexes

chemical compound

Built by Tim Jones