CHEMISTRY GLOSSARY

monomer    →   monomer

Monomer is a simple molecule which is capable of combining with a number of like or unlike molecules to form a polymer. Monomer is repeating structure unit within a polymer.

condensational polymerisation    →   kondenzacijska polimerizacija

Condensational polymerisation is a reaction of polymerisation in which monomers together create a polymer by losing small molecules like water.

copolymer    →   kopolimer

Copolymers are also known as heteropolymers. They are made from two (or more) different monomers, which usually undergo a condensation reaction with the elimination of a simple molecule, such as ammonia or water. A typical example is the condensation of 1,6-diaminohexane (hexamethylenediamine) with hexanedioic acid (adipic acid) to form nylon 6,6.

The properties of a polymeric plastic can most easily be modified if it is a copolymer of two or more different monomers, e.g. acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS). Varying the proportions of the component monomers can preselect its properties.

degree of polymerisation    →   stupanj polimerizacije

Degree of polymerisation is the number of monomeric units in a macromolecule or an oligomer molecule.

polyamide    →   poliamid

Polyamides are copolymers formed by condensation polymerization of monomers of dycarboxyl acid with a monomer of diamine, for example nylon.

polymer    →   polimer

Polymer is a substance composed of molecules of high relative molecular mass (molecular weight), the structure of which essentially comprises the multiple repetition of units derived, actually or conceptually, from molecules of low relative molecular mass (monomers). In most cases the number of monomers is quite large and is often not precisely known. A single molecule of a polymer is called a macromolecule. Polystyrene is light solid material obtained by polymerisation of styrene (vinyl benzene).

polymerization    →   polimerizacija

Polymerization is a reaction of connecting many monomers in one long molecule whereby polymers are created.

propagation    →   propagacija

Propagation is the step in a polymerization mechanism, where new monomer molecules are added to the growing polymer chain in the free radical process.

protein    →   bjelančevina

Proteins are natural organic compounds of animal or herbal origin, essential in diet. They are natural polymers developed from a crowd of interconnecting monomers of amino acids, with relative molecular masses amounting up to a few million.

vinyl chloride    →   vinil klorid

Vinyl chloride, CH₂=CHCl, is the monomer used in the synthesis of a polyvinylcloride.