Summary and Final Tasks

Summary

In Lesson One you have learned the very basics of polymers - how we describe the composition (monomer, repeat unit, homopolymer, copolymer, etc.), the skeletal structure (linear, branched, network), and the polymer size (degree of polymerization, number and weight average molar mass). You will have hopefully noticed how different polymer molecules are than molecules you are most familiar with. In particular, the polymer molar mass does not define its composition unlike other molecules, because a polymer have any degree of polymerization. Polymers are also so much higher molar mass than other molecules and as we will see in upcoming lessons, this gives polymers some unique material properties. Next, we will be learning about what is necessary to make a polymer in the first place, because not all molecules are monomers. How do we link together these monomers, and what determines the skeletal structure?

Reminder - Complete all of the Lesson 1 tasks!

You have reached the end of Lesson 1! Review the checklist on the Lesson 1 Overview / Checklist page to make sure you have completed all of the activities listed there before you begin Lesson 2.