Question

What do you mean by the term "polymer" ?​

Answer 1

Explanation:

a substance which has a molecular structure built up chiefly or completely from a large number of similar units bonded together, e.g. many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins.

Answer 2

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A synthetic fibre has a chain of many small units joined together. These small units are called monomers and the chain formed by joining many more monomers together is known as a polymer. Thus, polymers are large molecules consisting of a large number of small molecules called monomers.

The process of linking monomers to form polymers is called polymerization. The word poly means 'many' and mer means 'repeating units' in Greek.

Polythene (or polyethylene) is a polymer which is used to make carry bags. It is a polymer of ethene. That is, polythene is formed when a large number of ethene molecules (monomers) link up.

Polymers are of two types, natural and synthetic. Those polymers which occur in nature are called natural polymers. For example, cotton is a natural polymer of cellulose (wood pulp), Silk, wool, proteins, etc., are some other natural polymers.

Polymers which are separated artificial from small molecules are called synthetic or man-made polymers. For example, Rayon, Nylon, Polythene, Teflon etc.

Most synthetic polymers are strong, light in weight and long-lasting, which make them very useful. They are used extensively to make fabric, pipes, buckets, classes, packaging, material, etc