Notes 7-3
Forming Polymers
• Polymers form when chemical bonds link large numbers of monomers in a repeating pattern.
Monomers are the building blocks of polymers.
Mono = OnePoly = Many
Natural Polymers
• Proteins (monomer = Amino acids)– Examples: proteins carry O2 in blood, hair, nails,
proteins in snake venom• Carbohydrates (monomer = sugar)– Starches, cellulose
• DNA (monomer = nucleotides)• Spider webs• Silk• Wool
Synthetic Polymers
• Man-made• Plastics• Many types of clothing• Carpet• Gum• Toothpaste• Styrofoam• Nylon
Composites
• Combines 2 or more substances in a new material with different properties
• Often involves one or more polymers• Example: Wood is a composite of 2 polymers,
cellulose and lignin• Example: Ancient bricks were composites of
straw and mud