What is a Polymer

1
What is a Polymer?

• Withrow University High School
• May 2008

2
Definition

• The word polymer comes from the _________
  language.
• poly - mer
• many - parts
• So, polymer means __________.

3
A Polymer Molecule

• A polymer is a _________ ______________.
• This giant molecule is a long _________ of
  ______________ _____________ units.
• These repeating units are called ___________.
• A polymer molecule are made up of ________ of
  monomers.

4
Natural Polymers
5
Man-Made (Synthetic) Polymers
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Symbol

• The pictures below represent a polymer chain.
  (draw it)
• The M stands for ___________________.

7
Elasticity makes a ball bouncy

• An elastic object is able to change shape and
  return to its original shape.

8
Whats going on inside?

• The molecules stretch when a force is applied.
• When the force is removed, the molecules return
  to their original shape.

9
Polymers make the best elastics
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Example Monomer

• Mono One Put it together with mer to get?
• Tiny molecular unit that can chemically combine
  by bonds with other
  monomers to form a chain called a
  Polymer

Ethylene monomer molecule (C2H4)
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Polymer Synthesis

• combine chemically
  through covalent bonds to form long chain
  molecules.
• For the double bond
  between the carbons is opened up and attached
  to another atom of an ethylene
  monomer and the process continues as the molecule
  grows in size.

12
How to Represent Polymers

• Polyethylene (PE)
• Plastic bags, milk jugs, sockets for hip joint
  replacements, etc.
• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Piping, house siding, turntable records, etc.
• Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA)
• Glue, binder for making sheets of paper, binder
  for paints