👉 A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.
Alright class, settle down and let’s take a look! Today we're diving into a really important word: polymer . It sounds a bit fancy, doesn’t it? Let’s break it down nice and slow. The dictionary gives us a good definition, and I want to make sure you understand it completely. Think of it like this: “A long or larger molecule…” – That's the key! Polymers are big molecules. “…consisting of a chain or network…” - Imagine a really, really long necklace, or maybe even a tangled ball of yarn! That’s how they’re structured. “…of many repeating units…” – These "units" are like little building blocks that keep showing up over and over again. They're always the same, just linked together. “formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers.” - Now here’s where we get to the building blocks themselves! Monomers are those tiny little pieces – like LEGO bricks – that stick together to make something bigger. They're identical or very similar, so they fit perfectly next to each other. And finally, “A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.” – That’s the process ! Polymerization is simply the act of connecting all those monomers together, one after another, to create this larger polymer structure. So, to recap: Polymers are made from lots and lots of smaller pieces (monomers) that chemically bond to form a bigger chain or network. Do you have any questions about that? Let's see if we can rhyme it up for better understanding... “Monomers small, they play their part, Building polymers, right from the start!” Does that make sense? Let me know if anything is still unclear.
