2.4C Polymers

Synthetic and Plastics such as nylon are examples of synthetic polymers

Natural polymers include fibres such as silk as well as many biological molecules found in cells (DNA, proteins, starch, etc.)

Monomers:

a group of atoms that apprars repeatedly along a polymer chain is called a repeating unit. The structure of polymers can be represented using the chemical formula

Properties of Polymers:

In general, polymers are stable and require large amounts of energy to break. Like most covalent materials, they do not have freely moving charged particles. As a result, they are not eletrically conductive. The specific properties of a polymer depend on its chain length, the types of forces holding the chains together, the types of monomers, and the way the monomers are arranged.

Plastics:

Plastic are synthetic polymers composed mainly of carboj and hydrogen. Due to their strong bonds, they are inert (non-reactive)

• good for making things

• hard to break down

• very durable

Unfortunately, many plastics are not biodegradable

Polymers and the Environment

Plastic recycling poses many challenges. Sorting ans cleaning used plastics can be energy intensive. Some can release harmful gases when heated/melted. Often, discarded plastic products end up in landfills or in the ocean