Overview
Now that you know what a polymer is, how do we make one, and how do we categorize all the many types of polymers that can be formed? We know that in order to create a polymer, we need to link together monomers, and in this lesson we will begin to discuss how that happens. We will find that there are two general pathways by which monomers can be added together: chain growth and step growth. Each mechanism is characterized by different reactions that take place. In this lesson, you will learn the general characteristics of these polymerization pathways, what is necessary for a molecule to actually be considered a monomer, and how the functionality of the monomer contributes to the skeletal structure of the polymer.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
- describe the principle of equal reactivity;
- define and compare/contrast step growth vs chain growth; condensation with addition polymerization;
- identify functionality of a monomer and how it affects the skeletal structure of polymer formed;
- name the class of polymer formed based on the chemical structure;
- When presented with a polymer, be able to suggest monomers that can be used to produce it.
Lesson Checklist
| Activity | Content | Access / Directions |
|---|---|---|
| To Read | Read all of the online material for Lesson 2. | Continue navigating the online material. |
| To Read | Chapter 2 - Principals of Polymerization
| The chapter readings come from the textbook, Introduction to Polymers. |
| To Do | Homework 2 (Practice) | Registered students can access the homework assignment in the Lesson 2 module. |
Please refer to the Canvas Calendar for specific time frames.
Questions?
If you have questions, please feel free to post them to the General Questions and Discussion forum. While you are there, feel free to post your own responses if you, too, are able to help a classmate.