Repeat unit
Encyclopedia
An essential concept which defines polymer
structure, the repeat unit or repeating unit is a part of a polymer chain whose repetition would produce the complete polymer (except for the ends) by linking the repeat units together successively along the chain, like the beads of a necklace.
A repeat unit is sometimes called a mer or mer unit. "Mer" originates from the Greek
word "meros," which means part. The word polymer derives its meaning from this, which means "many mers." A repeat unit (or mer), is not to be confused with the term monomer
, which refers to the small molecule from which a polymer is synthesized.
One of the simplest repeat units is that of the addition polymer
polyvinyl chloride
,
-[CH2-CHCl]n-, whose repeat unit is -[CH2-CHCl]-.
In this case the repeat unit has the same atoms as the monomer vinyl chloride
CH2=CHCl. When the polymer is formed, the C=C double bond in the monomer is replaced by a C-C single bond in the polymer repeat unit, which links by two new bonds to adjoining repeat units.
In condensation polymer
s (see examples below), the repeat unit contains fewer atoms than the monomer or monomers from which it is formed.
The subscript "n" denotes the degree of polymerisation, that is, the number of units linked together. The molecular mass of the repeat unit, MR, is simply the sum of the atomic mass
es of the atom
s within the repeat unit. The molecular mass of the chain is just the product nMR. Other than monodisperse
polymers, there is normally a molar mass distribution
caused by chains of different length.
may be considered either as -[CH2-CH2-]n- with a repeat unit of -[CH2-CH2]-, or as [-CH2-]n-, with a repeat unit of -[CH2]-. Chemists tend to consider the repeat unit as -[CH2-CH2]- since this polymer is made from the monomer ethylene
(CH2=CH2).
More complex repeat units can occur in vinyl polymer
s -[CH2-CHR]n-, if one hydrogen in the ethylene repeat unit is substituted by a larger fragment R. Polypropylene
-[CH2-CH(CH3)]n- has the repeat unit -[CH2-CH(CH3)]. Polystyrene
has a chain where the substituent R is a phenyl group
(C6H5), corresponding to a benzene ring minus one hydrogen: -[CH2-CH(C6H5)]n-, so the repeat unit is -[CH2-CH(C6H5)]n-.
s the repeat unit contains two structural unit
s related to the comonomers which have been polymerized. For example, in polyethylene terephthalate
(PET or "polyester"), the repeat unit is -CO-C6H4-CO-O-CH2-CH2-O-. The polymer is formed by the condensation reaction
of the two monomers terephthalic acid
(HOOC-C6H4-COOH) and ethylene glycol
(HO-CH2-CH2-OH) , or their chemical derivatives
. The condensation involves loss of water, as an H is lost from each HO- group in the glycol, and an OH from each HOOC- group in the acid. The two structural units in the polymer are then considered to be -CO-C6H4-CO- and -O-CH2-CH2-O-.
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
structure, the repeat unit or repeating unit is a part of a polymer chain whose repetition would produce the complete polymer (except for the ends) by linking the repeat units together successively along the chain, like the beads of a necklace.
A repeat unit is sometimes called a mer or mer unit. "Mer" originates from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
word "meros," which means part. The word polymer derives its meaning from this, which means "many mers." A repeat unit (or mer), is not to be confused with the term monomer
Monomer
A monomer is an atom or a small molecule that may bind chemically to other monomers to form a polymer; the term "monomeric protein" may also be used to describe one of the proteins making up a multiprotein complex...
, which refers to the small molecule from which a polymer is synthesized.
One of the simplest repeat units is that of the addition polymer
Addition polymer
An addition polymer is a polymer which is formed by an addition reaction, where many monomers bond together via rearrangement of bonds without the loss of any atom or molecule...
polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
,
-[CH2-CHCl]n-, whose repeat unit is -[CH2-CHCl]-.
In this case the repeat unit has the same atoms as the monomer vinyl chloride
Vinyl chloride
Vinyl chloride is the organochloride with the formula H2C:CHCl. It is also called vinyl chloride monomer, VCM or chloroethene. This colorless compound is an important industrial chemical chiefly used to produce the polymer polyvinyl chloride . At ambient pressure and temperature, vinyl chloride...
CH2=CHCl. When the polymer is formed, the C=C double bond in the monomer is replaced by a C-C single bond in the polymer repeat unit, which links by two new bonds to adjoining repeat units.
In condensation polymer
Condensation polymer
Condensation polymers are any kind of polymers formed through a condensation reaction, releasing small molecules as by-products such as water or methanol, as opposed to addition polymers which involve the reaction of unsaturated monomers...
s (see examples below), the repeat unit contains fewer atoms than the monomer or monomers from which it is formed.
The subscript "n" denotes the degree of polymerisation, that is, the number of units linked together. The molecular mass of the repeat unit, MR, is simply the sum of the atomic mass
Atomic mass
The atomic mass is the mass of a specific isotope, most often expressed in unified atomic mass units. The atomic mass is the total mass of protons, neutrons and electrons in a single atom....
es of the atom
Atom
The atom is a basic unit of matter that consists of a dense central nucleus surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged electrons. The atomic nucleus contains a mix of positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons...
s within the repeat unit. The molecular mass of the chain is just the product nMR. Other than monodisperse
Monodisperse
A collection of objects are called monodisperse, or monosized, if they have the same size and shape when discussing particles, and the same mass when discussing polymers...
polymers, there is normally a molar mass distribution
Molar mass distribution
In linear polymers the individual polymer chains rarely have exactly the same degree of polymerization and molar mass, and there is always a distribution around an average value. The molar mass distribution in a polymer describes the relationship between the number of moles of each polymer species...
caused by chains of different length.
Other vinyl polymers
PolyethylenePolyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
may be considered either as -[CH2-CH2-]n- with a repeat unit of -[CH2-CH2]-, or as [-CH2-]n-, with a repeat unit of -[CH2]-. Chemists tend to consider the repeat unit as -[CH2-CH2]- since this polymer is made from the monomer ethylene
Ethylene
Ethylene is a gaseous organic compound with the formula . It is the simplest alkene . Because it contains a carbon-carbon double bond, ethylene is classified as an unsaturated hydrocarbon. Ethylene is widely used in industry and is also a plant hormone...
(CH2=CH2).
More complex repeat units can occur in vinyl polymer
Vinyl polymer
Vinyl polymers are a group of polymers derived from vinyl monomers. Their backbone is an extended alkane chain, made by polymerizing an alkene group into a chain . In popular usage, "vinyl" refers only to polyvinyl chloride...
s -[CH2-CHR]n-, if one hydrogen in the ethylene repeat unit is substituted by a larger fragment R. Polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
-[CH2-CH(CH3)]n- has the repeat unit -[CH2-CH(CH3)]. Polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
has a chain where the substituent R is a phenyl group
Phenyl group
In organic chemistry, the phenyl group or phenyl ring is a cyclic group of atoms with the formula C6H5. Phenyl groups are closely related to benzene. Phenyl groups have six carbon atoms bonded together in a hexagonal planar ring, five of which are bonded to individual hydrogen atoms, with the...
(C6H5), corresponding to a benzene ring minus one hydrogen: -[CH2-CH(C6H5)]n-, so the repeat unit is -[CH2-CH(C6H5)]n-.
Condensation polymers: repeat unit and structural units
In many condensation polymerCondensation polymer
Condensation polymers are any kind of polymers formed through a condensation reaction, releasing small molecules as by-products such as water or methanol, as opposed to addition polymers which involve the reaction of unsaturated monomers...
s the repeat unit contains two structural unit
Structural unit
In polymer chemistry, a structural unit is a building block of a polymer chain. It is the result of a monomer which has been polymerized into a long chain....
s related to the comonomers which have been polymerized. For example, in polyethylene terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate , commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P, is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers; thermoforming applications; and engineering resins often in combination...
(PET or "polyester"), the repeat unit is -CO-C6H4-CO-O-CH2-CH2-O-. The polymer is formed by the condensation reaction
Condensation reaction
A condensation reaction is a chemical reaction in which two molecules or moieties combine to form one single molecule, together with the loss of a small molecule. When this small molecule is water, it is known as a dehydration reaction; other possible small molecules lost are hydrogen chloride,...
of the two monomers terephthalic acid
Terephthalic acid
Terephthalic acid is the organic compound with formula C6H42. This colourless solid is a commodity chemical, used principally as a precursor to the polyester PET, used to make clothing and plastic bottles. Several billion kilograms are produced annually...
(HOOC-C6H4-COOH) and ethylene glycol
Ethylene glycol
Ethylene glycol is an organic compound widely used as an automotive antifreeze and a precursor to polymers. In its pure form, it is an odorless, colorless, syrupy, sweet-tasting liquid...
(HO-CH2-CH2-OH) , or their chemical derivatives
Derivative (chemistry)
In chemistry, a derivative is a compound that is derived from a similar compound by some chemical or physical process. In the past it was also used to mean a compound that can be imagined to arise from another compound, if one atom is replaced with another atom or group of atoms, but modern...
. The condensation involves loss of water, as an H is lost from each HO- group in the glycol, and an OH from each HOOC- group in the acid. The two structural units in the polymer are then considered to be -CO-C6H4-CO- and -O-CH2-CH2-O-.