Polymers are everywhere in our daily lives, but what are they really? As denoted by their names, polymers are chains of monomers. Because of their repetitive structure, polymers are flexible, strong, and durable.
Two types of polymers:
Addition polymers are formed by the combination of two polymers.
Condensation polymers are formed by the removal of small molecules, like H2O, to combine two polymers.
Examples of polymers:
Plastics
Polyethylene—grocery bags and water bottles
Biocompatible polymers in medicine and surgery
Synthetic fibers
Polymers are strong, but they also aren’t great for the environment because of how long it takes them to break down. However, changes are being made to develop more biodegradable polymers, so hopefully problems with pollution and waste management will not have such an impact in the future.
Two types of polymers:
Addition polymers are formed by the combination of two polymers.
Condensation polymers are formed by the removal of small molecules, like H2O, to combine two polymers.
Examples of polymers:
Plastics
Polyethylene—grocery bags and water bottles
Biocompatible polymers in medicine and surgery
Synthetic fibers
Polymers are strong, but they also aren’t great for the environment because of how long it takes them to break down. However, changes are being made to develop more biodegradable polymers, so hopefully problems with pollution and waste management will not have such an impact in the future.
