Why do two polymers have different properties?

Polymers are large molecules made up of long chains or networks of smaller molecules called monomers. Varying the molecular structure and length of polymer chains or networks results in different polymers with different properties—such as strength, flexibility, heat resistance and recyclability.

Do polymers have the same properties as their monomers?

Polymers are chains with an unspecified number of monomeric units. Homopolymers are polymers made by joining together monomers of the same chemical composition or structure. Heteropolymers are polymers composed of more than one kind of monomer….Monomers and Polymers.

What are 2 properties of polymers?

Some of the useful properties of various engineering polymers are high strength or modulus to weight ratios (light weight but comparatively stiff and strong), toughness, resilience, resistance to corrosion, lack of conductivity (heat and electrical), color, transparency, processing, and low cost.

What determines polymer properties?

Polymer properties depend on the chemicals that the polymer is made from and polymerization conditions that ultimately set molecular architecture: chemical linkage type, chain length, and the nature of the end groups. The type of the monomer-repeat unit that forms a polymer has a strong effect on polymer properties.

What is the repeating chemical unit of a polymer chain called?

monomer
Repeating Units and Monomers A molecule from which a polymer is made is called a monomer. Each vinyl chloride monomer molecule contributes a CH2 group joined to a CHCl unit by a single bond.

When all the repeating units along a chain are of the same type the resulting polymer is called?

12.2. Such a system in which all the repeat units between end groups are identical is termed a homopolymer. Alternatively, molecules may be synthesized in which all the monomer units are not identical.

Do all polymers have the same properties?

The materials have unique properties, depending on the type of molecules being bonded and how they are bonded. Some polymers bend and stretch, like rubber and polyester. Others are hard and tough, like epoxies and glass. Polymers touch almost every aspect of modern life.

How are polymers different from other materials?

Polymer Chains Tangle Up. (Chain Entanglement) Since the chains are harder to pull out or separate, that can make things made out of polymers stronger. Some polymers are more straight and stiff than others.

How do you find the repeating unit of a polymer?

Since polymers are made by linking together many identical small molecules, there are repeating units in polymers. Here’s an example, polyvinyl chloride, in which the repeating unit is -CH2-CHCl-. In poly(vinyl chloride) the repeating unit comes directly from the end-to-end linking of many vinyl chloride molecules.

How do you make a repeating unit?

When drawing one, you need to:

1. change the double bond in the monomer to a single bond in the repeat unit.
2. add a bond to each end of the repeat unit.
3. draw brackets around the repeating unit so that the brackets go through the middle of the bonds at the end.

What is the difference between addition polymer and polymerisation?

Polymers and Addition Polyme rs: The addition polymers are formed by the repeated addition of monomer molecules possessing double or triple bonds, e.g., the formation of polythene from ethene and polypropene from propene. However, the addition polymers formed by the polymerisation of a single monomeric species are known as

What is the structure of a copolymer?

a block copolymer can be thought of as two homopolymers joined together at the ends: branched copolymers with one kind of monomers in their main chain and another kind of monomers in their side chains.

What is the difference between linear monomers and monomers with more reactive groups?

Monomers with only one reactive group terminate a growing chain, and thus give end products with a lower molecular weight. Linear polymers are created using monomers with two reactive end groups and monomers with more than two end groups give three dimensional polymers which are cross linked.

What is the difference between hetero and Homo polymer?

Homo Polymers : Polymers made up of with same type of monomers are called homo polymers eg: Poly ethylene, PVC Hetero polymers : Polymers made up of with different type of monomers are called hetero polymers eg: buna-s rubber