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In polymer chemistry
Polymer chemistry

Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is a multidisciplinary science that deals with the chemical synthesis and Chemical property of polymers or macromolecules....
, a structural unit is a building block of a polymer
Polymer

A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units typically connected by covalent chemical bonds. While polymer in popular usage suggests plastic, the term actually refers to a large class of natural and synthetic materials with a variety of properties....
 chain, and related to the repeat unit
Repeat unit

An essential concept which defines polymer structure, the repeat unit is the simplest structural unit of a polymer chain. So a polymer consists of repeat units linked together, like the beads of a necklace....
. It is the result of a monomer
Monomer

A monomer is a small molecule that may become Chemistry chemical bonding to other monomers to form a polymer....
 which has been polymerized into a long chain. When different monomer are polymerized, a copolymer is formed. It is a routine way of developing new properties for new materials.








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In polymer chemistry
Polymer chemistry

Polymer chemistry or macromolecular chemistry is a multidisciplinary science that deals with the chemical synthesis and Chemical property of polymers or macromolecules....
, a structural unit is a building block of a polymer
Polymer

A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units typically connected by covalent chemical bonds. While polymer in popular usage suggests plastic, the term actually refers to a large class of natural and synthetic materials with a variety of properties....
 chain, and related to the repeat unit
Repeat unit

An essential concept which defines polymer structure, the repeat unit is the simplest structural unit of a polymer chain. So a polymer consists of repeat units linked together, like the beads of a necklace....
. It is the result of a monomer
Monomer

A monomer is a small molecule that may become Chemistry chemical bonding to other monomers to form a polymer....
 which has been polymerized into a long chain. When different monomer are polymerized, a copolymer is formed. It is a routine way of developing new properties for new materials.

Examples


Consider this example: Take polyethylene terephthalate. The monomers which could be used to create this polymer are ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid:

HO-CH2-CH2-OH and HOOC-Ph-COOH

In the polymer, there are two structural units, which are -O-CH2-CH2-O- and -CO-Ph-CO-

The repeat unit is

-CH2-CH2-O-CO-Ph-CO-O-

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