- 2065 Shrawan (old course) · 4 marks
Polymer versus polymerization
Short answer
A polymer is a macromolecule consisting of many repeating units, while polymerization is the chemical process of joining monomers to form that polymer. Polymer is the end product (e.g. polyethylene); polymerization is the reaction (e.g. addition polymerization).
Differentiate between polymer and polymerization.
| Point | Polymer | Polymerization |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | A large molecule (macromolecule) formed from many repeating units | The chemical process of joining monomers to form a polymer |
| Nature | A substance (product) | A reaction (process) |
| Role | Final material, e.g. polyethylene, PVC | Method used to make it |
| Types | Natural (rubber, cellulose), synthetic (plastics), thermoplastic, thermosetting | Addition and condensation polymerization |
| Example | Polyethylene | |
| Key feature | Very high molecular mass (thousands or more) | Needs heat, pressure, a catalyst or an initiator |
In short, the polymer is what is formed and polymerization is how it is formed.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
Related questions
- Thermoplastics versus thermosetting plastics · Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10
- Paint versus varnish · Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 9 · asked 5×
- Asphalt versus bitumen · Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10 · asked 4×
- Fat lime versus hydraulic lime · Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 4 · asked 3×
- Asphalt versus tar · Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 10 · asked 3×
- Annealing versus quenching · Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 8 · asked 2×
- Image space versus object space methods · Computer Graphics, chapter 7 · asked 9×
- Call by value versus call by reference · Computer Programming, chapter 6 · asked 8×
- Random scan versus raster scan display · Computer Graphics, chapter 1 · asked 7×
- Rock mass versus intact rock · Engineering Geology II, chapter 6 · asked 7×