Question
What are polymers and monomers? Explain with an example.
Answer
Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers. Monomers are small molecules that can link together to form a polymer. The process of linking monomers together is called polymerization.
For example, the polymer polyethylene is made up of repeating units of the monomer ethylene. Ethylene has the chemical formula C2H4 and is a gas at room temperature. When ethylene molecules undergo polymerization, they link together to form a long chain of polyethylene molecules.
