Molecules {polymer}| can link repeated subunits into sequence. Carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids are polymers.
mass
Polymers have masses of 10,000 to 100,000 dalton. Masses have normal distribution, skewed toward lower masses. Centrifugation or light scattering can indicate mass.
osmotic pressure
Polymer osmotic pressure is higher than ideal solution pressure, because polymers are large molecules.
colloid
Polymers make colloids, because molecules are long.
viscosity
Polymer viscosity depends on molecule size and shape. Shape has four parameters: moments in three spatial dimensions and orientation.
Polymers {plastic, chemistry}| can have hydrocarbon subunits. Thermoplastics melt if heated. Thermosetting plastics do not melt if heated. Plastics can have covalent or hydrogen bonds that cross-link polymer chains.
types
Nitrocellulose was first plastic [1879] and comes from cellulose. It was in the first billiard balls and then in dental plates and Celluloid shirt collars. Nitrocellulose is in combs, brushes, eyeglass frames, film negatives, and car lacquer.
Cellulose acetate was second plastic invented, comes from cellulose, coats fabric-covered airplanes, is in model airplane glue, and is in nail polish, mixed with acetone.
Polyethylene comes from ethylene.
Polystyrene comes from styrene.
Polyvinyl chloride or PVC comes from vinyl chloride.
Acrylic comes from acrylonitrile.
Polyester comes from ethylene glycol and propylene glycol.
Nylon comes from amide.
Polymers {elastomer} can stretch and then resume shape, because normally they are contracted chains. Elastic polymers have cis double bonds, to allow stretching.
Nitrocellulose {cellophane} can be for wrapping.
Nitrocellulose {rayon} can be fibers.
Rayon and cellophane have basic units {viscose}.
Outline of Knowledge Database Home Page
Description of Outline of Knowledge Database
Date Modified: 2022.0225