2.4C Polymers

hi Sean

What are synthetic polymers and what are some examples?

Man-made polymers such as nylon, polyester, teflon and epox.

Give some examples of natural polymers

Nature-bound:

• silk, rubber

Biological molecules

• DNA and proteins

What are Monomers?

Small units that repeat along a polymer chain, forming the polymer.

Repeating unit

A group of atoms that appears repeatedly along a polymer chain.

Tell me about polymers

a class of covalently bonded materials characterized by their low thermal and electrical conductivity and low density compared to other materials.

They are macromolecules. They are long, chain-like molecules that are built from smaller molecules called monomers.

Tell me about Polymer Properties

• stable

• require large amounts of energy to break

• not electrically conductive.

What are Plastics?

Synthetic polymers composed mainly of carbon and hydrogen.

Tell me about Plastics’ properties

• non-reactive due to their strong bonds.

  • hard to break down and very durable.

• not biodegradable

What is problematic about Plastics? How does it affect the environment?

1. The process of plastics involves energy-intensive sorting and cleaning.

2. Discarded plastic products often end up in landfills or the ocean, causing harm to the environment.