Chemists have ventured into the task of hooking up small units (the monomers) and producing much larger units (polymer chains). It's like weaving continuous ropes, or even nets.
Polymers can be classified according to atomic structure. Discover now the types of polymers created in the laboratory by these scientists:
linear polymers: are composed of many long strands joined together, as if they were a continuous rope.
branched polymers: have small branches attached to the main polymer chain. Figuratively speaking, it would be like little lines tied to the main string, in this case, along the length of the string.
Crosslinked Polymers: this is the most complex type, imagine taking the ropes and making a net with them. Crosslinking is formed by individual polymer chains linked by side chains. See what this structure would look like:
By Líria Alves
Graduated in Chemistry
Brazil School Team
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Polymers - Organic chemistry - Chemistry - Brazil School
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/classificacao-dos-polimeros-sinteticos.htm
