POLYMERS

Define monomer and polymer.

– A monomer is an individual unit that acts as a building block for large biological
molecules.
– A polymer is large molecule made up many small monomers. Think of a chain.

Describe the structure of polymers in terms of monomers.

Give some examples of synthetic (man made) and natural polymers.

O
|| |
Be able to identify the structure that makes a compound an ester: —C-O-C—
|

Be able to identify the structure that makes a compound an amino acid: (contains an
amine group and a carboxylic acid group)
H O
| ||
H2N—C—C-O-H
|
R

O
|| |
Be able to identify the structure that makes a compound an amide: —C—N-H

Name the four major classes of naturally occurring polymers.

1—
2—
3—
4—

Know what the monomer that makes up starch and cellulose are.
Know what distinguishes starch from cellulose.

Know the class of compounds (monomers) that make up proteins:

Know at least five functions that proteins serve:

1—
2—
3—
4—
5—
6—

Know what enzymes are and why they are so important.

PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Amino Acid--X can be any of 20 diff erent structures
O
H
H2N C
C OH

Xn

A peptide--the peptide bond is shown in bold font

X
O
H
H2N C
C OH
C N C
H
X H O

A section of a protein--note the repeating

structure of the "backbone"

H O
H
O
X2
H
N H N C
C
C
N C C
C
H
X1 H O X3
X may be: H

CH3

CH2OH

CH2 CH2 SHCH3

CH2 C-OH

CH2

etc........
Some polymers

H Cl H Cl H Cl H Cl
+
H H H H H H H H
vinyl chloride
polyvinylchloride

H H H H
+
H H H H H H H H
styrene polystyrene

F F F F F F F F F F
F

F F F F F F F F F

Teflon

O O
N
N N
O
Nylon-(6,6)