A biological definition of a polymer would state that it is a macromolecule consisting of smaller units called monomers which are bonded together. The existence of polymers was discovered by a German chemist named Hermann Staudinger who received a Nobel Prize in chemistry. Polymers came to be when Staudinger theorized that substances like natural rubber have very high molecular weights. In a research paper called "Über Polymerisation," Staudinger attempted to prove his theory. The paper involved a compilation of several chemical reactions which resulted in a larger molecule. These reactions he called "polymerization," where smaller units are joined to make a larger unit. This new concept, referred to as "macromolecules" by Staudinger in
Polymers a large molecules made up of a chain of smaller molecules, known as monomers. The monomers that a polymer is made up of decide its structure and therefore it's function. These monomers are linked and coiled in a very specific manor giving the polymer a specific tertiary structure (an extensively coiled and linked polymer chain caused as a result of the formation of more bonds forming). This tertiary structure is crucial to the function of a polymer as it denotes the necessary shape of the complementary molecule. This is easier explained through an example.
To keep it as simple as possible, (K.I.S.S.) this topic involves the study of: 1. POLYMERS FROM PETROCHEMICALS & BIOMASS
Plastics are also called polymers, are produced by natural products like oil, natural gas or coal.
During the 1920s, Nobel laureate Hermann Staudinger laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of polymer science. He suggested a new molecular model for polymers; one of long, chain-like molecules and not aggregates or cyclic compounds as previously thought. In 1928, his models were confirmed by Meyer and Mark. These two scientists studied the dimensions of natural rubber using x-ray techniques. By the 1930s, models were widely accepted and extensive development of synthetic polymers began in
Unauthorized immigration has been a major political issue at least for the past 30 years, and is one of the most difficult to resolve. The problem relates to both economic and business realities of the U.S. and Mexico. There may be anywhere between 4 to 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States. For undocumented immigrants from Mexico, population experts have discovered that there is a constant flow of both immigrants into the US and leaving the US . This is the primary reason why the exact number remains unknown.
The separation of macromolecules for laboratory analysis can involve the use of any of several techniques that isolate macromolecular components on the basis of size, solubility, reactivity, and volatility. Electrophoresis, for example, is a method of macromolecular separation that involves the use of a suspending medium, known as the matrix, and an applied electrical current that separates molecular components based on varying size and reactivity. While a uniform electrical current may activate the movement of molecular components through the matrix, the sponge-like structure of gel matrixes typically used in nucleic acid electrophoresis, such as agarose or polyacrylamide, inhibits the uniform migration of these components through the matrix
Macromolecules have a large covalent structures which contain non-metal atoms, they are joined to contiguous atoms by covalent bonds. Substances that have giant covalent structures have high melting points due to a lot of strong covalent bonds that must be broken.
All living things are made out of billions of cells and all contain macromolecules. They are responsible for life as we know it. As we begin to advance and go farther in the field of science, more and more questions are being asked and to answer them, more technologies and techniques are being created and discovered. Scientists John B. Fenn and Koichi Tanaka (for mass spectrometry, a method of identifying molecules) and Kurt Wüthrich (for nuclear magnetic resonance, a method used to form a three-dimensional image of a molecule) created different methods that allowed us to embrace macromolecules. They created a revolutionary breakthrough that made chemical biology into the “big science” of our time.
The presence of a nuclear envelope surrounding genetic code is the main defining feature that separates eukaryotes from prokaryotes. This compartmentalisation of the genome provides a novel way for a cell to control gene expression, as proteins and macromolecules that are synthesised in the cytoplasm and function in the nucleoplasm must be imported across the double nuclear membrane and vice versa.
When many units of repeating molecules react together, monomers, the reaction will yield a product in the form of a polymer (Chemistryexplained.com, 2016). The ‘discovery’ of polymers began in 1920, with the belief of Hermann Staudinger, that there existed a molecule consisting of many smaller repeating molecules, under the name ‘macromolecule’ (Chemistryexplained.com, 2016). Nowadays, polymer and plastic demand is even higher than that of copper, aluminium, and even steel, due to their versatile applications in many different industries (Matse1.matse.illinois.edu, 2016). Polymer synthesis can be either synthetic or natural, and can produce many forms of polymers, depending on the involved monomers, and the intended purpose for said polymers (Essentialchemicalindustry.org, 2016). This process involves three main steps, initiation or separating of the double bonds of the to-be-monomer, propagation or the joining of these monomers, and termination, when the desired chain length has been reached (Chemistryexplained.com, 2016). History is brimful with scientific discoveries both intentional, and completely accidental, however, it can be seen that the majority of polymers were crafted due to societal demand, although the method of actual synthesis initially may have been serendipitous. Two of the polymers scientifically researched and synthesised due to demand of the times were synthetic rubber, and Bakelite (Chemistryexplained.com, 2016).
The most common macromolecules found in living organisms are lipids, carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids. Briefly, the meaning of macromolecules is that they normally contain two or more molecules in them and their main functions are to store energy, information and much more. Most foods are known to be combinations of macromolecules. While some of these compounds can be detected by taste tests, many cannot. Scientists then use certain tests to determine the presence of macromolecules.
"Plastic" entered the world through chemistry in 1909 and was originally coined to describe Bakelite, the first fully synthetic resin. What make's plastic so unique is when it is heated it can be molded but it retained its shape when cooled (Reddy, 2010). The modern plastic bag was not possible until the accidental discovery of the first industrially practical method of polyethylene synthesis in 1933. Fast forward to today, the use and
Plastics are materials that can be moulded into any shape by applying heat and/or pressure while soft but obtain a hard a rigid structure when hardened. Plastics are mainly carbon based and can be made out of materials such as crude oil, plants, minerals, natural gas and coal. Plastics are made up of large molecules called polymers which are made up of shorter compounds called monomers. To make various types of plastics, chemists use different types of monomers in different arrangements to change the chemical and physical properties.
Though polymers are a very beneficial thing now, but In the future I believe that at the very best that they will only hold the same value to society. I say this because polymers are not a very complicated item and it would be difficult to better this technology in a drastic way. The only further advancements I see are people discovering ways to make polymers stronger, more durable and better suited for extreme and
The past few centuries have seen such a drastic change in the world in terms of human activities that it has resulted in an enormously significant change in our planet. For a better understanding, the process which brings all people and communities across the globe come together to experience a progressively universal economic, social and cultural environment is called globalisation. Thus, by definition, the process of globalisation affects everybody throughout the world and also has a significant impact on the environment. As said by James Arvanitakis (Arvanitakis p.166), ‘the issue of the environment and globalisation is the most pressing issue facing the world today’. Globalisation is thought to be a major cause behind change of climate that is experienced currently in the world. However, there are those who support and agree with the notion that climate change actually poses a global risk and those who do not agree with it. The debate on the extent of climate change being a global risk, which is called climate change science, is one that is of high interest for various groups in Australia who either agree with the view or disagree with it for their own reasons and each one has their own arguments regarding the subject.