What is the difference between a Monomer and a Polymer?

When you say monomer, this is known to be something that is needed in order to form a polymer. The polymer is usually composed of a chain of monomers that have gone through a process called polymerization.

A monomer is known to be a single atom or a molecule that will usually bond with other monomers. They are known to be very simple, but when they are placed together, they are able to form something that is far more complex. One difference between the polymer with the monomer is the size.

The polymer is expected to be bigger for sure. Take note that a polymer may be synthetic or natural, but the fact remains that they are repeating units.

A polymer is a macromolecule made up of repeating components that characterize the monomers. Monomers are the building blocks of polymers—a polymer form when monomers connect through covalent chemical bonds. There are several classifications of polymers. There are natural and synthetic polymers.

We can group them according to properties as thermoplastic, thermosetting polymers, and elastomers. Polymerization is the procedure that we use to create a polymer from monomers. We can organize these materials according to the process of polymerization as well. Those materials can be tough, viscoelastic, and can form glass. Monomers are building blocks of polymers, and they can appear as simple or compound molecules with double bonds or functional groups.

The existence of unsaturated double bonds or functional groups is a requirement in the polymerization process when many monomers are linking to form a polymer. Typically, there are two functional groups on both sides of the monomers, so it can create linear chains by binding to the other from both sides, and if there are several monomer groupings, and monomers can link to form branched polymers.