Organic Polymers, Natural and Synthetic

The glasslike sculpture is made of a polymer, which allows it to stand up to the outdoor weather. The repeating design, though random, recognizes the randomness and repetitiveness of the structure of polymers. 

Dale Chihuly, Chlhuly Bridge of Glass, Crystal Towers detail, 2002, Tacoma, Washlngton/Scott M. Leen 

A polymer is made up of a large number of small molecular units, called monomers, combined together chemically. A typical polymer molecule contains a chain of monomers several thousand units long. The monomer units of which a given polymer is composed may be the same or different. 

We start with synthetic organic polymers. Since about 1930, a variety of synthetic polymers have been made available by the chemical industry. The monomer units are joined together either by addition (Section 23.1) or by condensation (Section 23.2). They are used to make cups, plates, fabrics, automobile tires, and even artificial hearts. 

The remainder of this chapter will deal with natural polymers. These are large molecules, produced by plants and animals, that carry out the many life-sustaining processes in a living cell. The cell membranes of plants and the woody structure of trees are composed in large part of cellulose, a polymeric carbohydrate. We will look at the structures of a variety of different carbohydrates in Section 23.3. Another class of natural polymers are the proteins. Section 23.4 deals with these polymeric materials that make up our tissues, bone, blood, and even hair.  

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Organic Polymers, Natural and Synthetic 610 Appendix 1 Units, Constants, and Reference Data 635 Appendix 2 Properties of the Elements 641 Appendix 3 Exponents and Logarithms 643 Appendix 4 Nomenclature of Complex Ions 648 Appendix 5 Molecular Orbitals 650... 

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Organic Polymers, Natural and Synthetic... 

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