What is a macromolecule

To define a macromolecule, it is necessary first to consider the basic definition of a molecule. A molecule is a group of atoms connected by covalent chemical bonds. The chemical structure of the molecule is defined by the specific connectivities between the atoms. Some atoms can covalently bond to more than one other atom. The study of macromolecules explores the rich variety of chemical structures that can be created by assemblies of atoms that display multiple valence. 

The detailed chemical structure of a macromolecule is defined by the location of all the atoms and by the specification of the pairs of atoms that are covalently bonded. A full discussion of this subject is presented in Chapter 2. It is often convenient to divide the structure of a macromolecule into subunits called mers. A molecule that can be divided into a small number of subunits is called an oligomer. If the number of subunits is large the molecule is called a pol5rmer. 

---