What is a polymer?
- Polymers consist of very large molecules
- The are made by linking together large numbers of smaller molecules called monomers
- The atoms in the polymer molecules are linked to other atoms via strong covalent bonds
- The intermolecular forces acting in between polymer chains are larger than those in between simple molecules so polymers are usually solid at room temperature
- Examples of polymers include polythene and polychloroethene, commonly known as PVC
Diagram of a polymer chain
Polymers are made from very long carbon chains