word | polymer |
---|---|
definition | A chemical compound formed by a reaction in which two or more molecules combine to form larger molecules with repeating structural units. |
eg_sentence | Nylon, a polymer commercially introduced in 1938, can be spun and woven into fabrics or cast as tough, elastic blocks. |
explanation | There are many natural polymers, including shellac, cellulose, and rubber. But synthetic polymers only came into being around 1870 with Celluloid, known especially for its use in photographic film. After many decades of development, the polymeric compounds now include polypropylene, used in milk crates, luggage, and hinges; polyurethane, used in paints, adhesives, molded items, rubbers, and foams; and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used to make pipes that won't rust. And let's not forget polyester, which gave us a lot of uncool clothing in the 1970s but whose strength and resistance to corrosion have ensured that it remains an extremely useful material for all kinds of goods |
IPA | ˈpɑləmər |
Tags: mwvb::unit:3, mwvb::unit:3:word, mwvb::word, mwvb::word-cloze, mwvb::word-reverse, obsidian_to_anki
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