NATURAL POLYMERS
By: Jordan
Storey & Tomy
Nicholson
ORIGIN OF THE WORD POLYMER
 The word polymer originates from the two Greek words: “poly”
and “meros”.
 “Poly” translates to many, and “ meros” translates to parts.
 Therefore, a polymer is a molecule that is composed of
multiple parts.
Photo courtesy of “Clip Art”
WHAT IS A NATURAL POLYMER?
 A polymer is a long
chain of thousands of
identical “unit
molecules” called
monomers.
 A natural polymer is a
polymer that is found
in nature and is not
man made all natural
or organic polymers
come from living
organisms.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3VdPladRId0/TP5ZFd0nC
8I/AAAAAAAAABw/3SW4fIeLf-s/s1600/CottonMix.jpg
KEY TERMS TO UNDERSTANDING
POLYMERS
 Monomer: A simple molecule that joins with others to create a
long complex chain called a polymer.
 Polymerization: The process of producing a polymer from
monomers. (Bonding).
 Addition Reaction: a reaction that creates polymers in which
an unsaturated monomer becomes saturated. (It loses the
double bond). (This will be explained in the next slide).
 Condensation Reaction: polymers are formed by monomers
who bond front to end. The product of this reaction is usually
water. (This will be elaborated later in the presentation).
 Functional Group: a specific arrangement of atoms that
characterise chemical reaction in organic chemistry. (This is
a way of classifying organic compounds).
DEFINITION ADDITION REACTION
EXPLANATION PHOTOS/DIAGRAM
This diagram shows
two ethene
monomers, that
form one polythene
polymer. This is an
addition reaction.
(*Notice the double
bonds are lost to
continue the
polymer chain).
http://c1933542.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspa
cecloud.com/heliconhe2010/ref94.gif
CHEMISTS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE
SCIENCE OF NATURAL POLYMERS
 Now we will discuss three chemists responsible for the
advancement of chemistry involving polymers.
http://c1933542.cdn.cloudfiles.racks
pacecloud.com/heliconhe2010/ref94
.gif
THOMAS GRAHAM
 In 1861 Thomas Graham,
a British Chemist realized
that organic compounds
such as starch and
cellulose would not pass
through fine filters, and
that they could not be
purified into crystalline
form. He believed the
organization of the atoms
in these compounds to be
completely different from
any other.
Thomas Graham
http://lowres-picturecabinet.com.s3-eu-west1.amazonaws.com/43/main/3/82270.jpg
HERMAN STAUDINGER
 In 1920 Herman
Staudinger researched
polymers. He determined
that polymers are
composed of long chain
molecules. These
molecules are either
identical or closely
related. This discovery
became the fundamental
description of a polymer’s
form. He later became
the first polymer chemist
to win a Nobel Prize.
Herman
Staudinger
http://www.beyonddiscovery
.org/Includes/Dialogs/Close
up.asp?ID=1532
KURT MEYER & HERMAN MARK
 In 1928 Kurt Meyer
and Herman Mark
demonstrated the
existence of polymers
by examining their
crystalline structures
with x-rays. These
findings helped
Staudinger’s findings
have more credibility.
Herman Mark
http://www.nap.edu/html/biomem
s/hmark.html
WHERE CAN THEY BE FOUND?
 Since natural polymers are natural they are found in nature.
The human body, plants, food, and many other living beings.
EXAMPLES
 On the following slides are some examples of natural
polymers.
Photo courtesy of “Clip Art”
STARCH
 Starch- is a polymer
formed of thousands
of glucose monomers.
As it is being formed
it produces water
molecules. Starch is
a carbohydrate and is
therefore found in a
variety of foods such
as cereal grains and
potatoes.
http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/3
91485-51517-5.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/d9M1JBeo4dI/TbBPQ4WsFXI/AAAAAAAAAFk/SxoMh5QvOhg/s1600/Starch.gif
CELLULOSE
 Cellulose- is the most
common natural,
(organic) compound on
earth. This polymer is
the base of which
plants are made of,
(their stems, leaves and
the trunks of trees to
name a few examples.
It is also composed
mainly of glucose,
However the difference
is made by the bonding
arrangement.
http://hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum/images/ed
ucation/Plants-and-Me.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/d9M1JBeo4dI/TbBPQ4WsFXI/AAAAAAAAAFk/SxoMh5QvOhg/s1600/St
arch.gif
PROTEINS OR POLYPEPTIDES
Proteins- a common
example would be
DNA. They are
formed by the
bonding of amino
acids. Proteins are
linked by peptide
bonds, which will be
discussed later in
the presentation.
http://www.zmescience.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/04/dna.jpg
BONDING EXAMPLES
 There are dif ferent types of bonds found in polymers in the
following slides we will look at a few examples.
Photo courtesy of “Clip Art”
PEPTIDE BONDS
 Peptide Bonds are
formed by the joining of
a large quantity of
amino acid units. The
product of peptide
bonds are called
polypeptides. All
protein molecules are
polypeptides. This
reaction produces
water as a by-product
and is therefore a
condensation reaction.
http://cerebralenhancementzone.wikispaces.com
/file/view/peptide_bond.png/200318874/peptid
e_bond.png
DISULFIDE BONDS
This bond is when
two sulfur atoms,
from two monomers
that bond together.
In this case
hydrogen is the
product, in addition
to the polymer.
http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/cronk/bioc
hem/images/disulfide_bond_formation.gif
HYDROGEN BONDS
These bonds occur between the O,
(oxygen) and H, (hydrogen) molecules of
two monomers.
http://wiki.chemeddl.org/mediawiki/images/1/16/Chapter_8_page_37-3.jpg
SALT BRIDGE
Negative charged side chains attract to
positive charged side chains. (See the
diagram below).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b
4/Next_Revisit_Glutamic_Acid_Lysine_salt_bridge.png/300pxNext_Revisit_Glutamic_Acid_Lysine_salt_bridge.png
INFO ON AMINO ACIDS BONDING
 Amino acids are the
monomers in protein
polymers.
 All amino acids
except one of the
twenty have the same
general form.
 Amino acids have side
chains that determine
their form.
http://www.hcc.mnscu.edu/chem/V.27/amino_aci
d_structure_2.jpg
EXAMPLES OF AMINO ACIDS 1/3
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869K/CHEM869KLinks/esg-www.mit.edu/esgbio/lm/proteins/aa/aminoacids.gif
EXAMPLES OF AMINO ACIDS 2/3
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869K/CHEM869KLinks/esg-www.mit.edu/esgbio/lm/proteins/aa/aminoacids.gif
EXAMPLES OF AMINO ACIDS 3/3
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869K/CHEM869KLinks/esgwww.mit.edu/esgbio/lm/proteins/aa/aminoacids.gif
HOW TO DRAW THE STRUCTURE
 Since we know that polymers can contain thousands of
monomers, this becomes a seemingly overwhelming task.
 However when drawing the structure or writing the formula we
do not focus on the entire polymer. But only on a small part
of it. This is the part that is repeated throughout the polymer.
http://www.ndted.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Materials/Graph
ics/PolyethyleneChain.jpg
STRUCTURE
 Draw the monomer structure.
 Put the brackets around the monomer. (Also notice that the
monomer loses the double bond).
 Place horizontal lines on the brackets, (this symbolizes that
the monomer is bonded to other identical monomers).
 Place either a subscript n or the number of polymer links, (if
known) outside the brackets.
http://cornellbiochem.wikispaces.com/file/view/Ethene_polymerization.png/17
7897061/Ethene_polymerization.png
NAMING
 The naming for polymers is rather simple, they
follow the same general rule.
 Poly(name of monomer)
 Certain polymers have more than one
monomer, but it follows the same rule.
 (There are some exceptions to this rule, some
polymers have more than one name).
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Ethene_polymerization.png
EXAMPLES OF POLYMER NAMES
Monomer Name
Monomer Structure
Polymer Name
Polymer Structure
(polythen
e or
polyethylene)
-[-CH2-CH2-]n-
Polymer Uses
polyethene
ethene (ethylene)
CH2=CH2
propene (propylene)
CH2=CHCH3
chloroethane (vinyl chloride)
CH2=CHCl
polypropene
(polypropylene)
-[-CH2-CHCH3-]n-
LDPE for sandwich wrap, cling wrap
HDPE for water pipes, wire insulation
electrical appliances, automotive applications,
ropes, carpets, films
polyvinyl chloride
(PVC)
indoor electrical conduit, underground water pipes
-[-CH2-CHCl-]n-
http://www.ausetute.com.au/polymers.html
WHAT IS VINYL
Vinyl is an ethene
which has 3
hydrogen atoms and
1 bond ready to take
on a functional
group, (substituent).
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=vinyl+polymer+structure&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qscrl=1&rlz=
1T4ADFA_enCA412CA413&biw=1366&bih=612&tbm=isch&tbnid=1vXwlATDuJzaM:&imgrefurl=http://www.mpcfaculty.net/mark_bishop/addition_polymers.htm
&docid=81Y01U7PWSDRbM&imgurl=http://www.mpcfaculty.net/mark_bishop/pvc_formation
.jpg&w=372&h=321&ei=vudgUPuwM8B0AH_rYH4DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=415&vpy=152&dur=4266&hovh=209&hovw=242&tx
=138&ty=112&sig=102163294003095376708&page=1&tbnh=158&tbnw=183&start=0&nd
sp=17&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:72
HOW TO WRITE THE FORMULA
When writing the formula:
1 . Identify the monomer.
2.Use brackets with bonds coming of f each side.
3. Put n outside of brackets, (as a subscript), or the number of
monomers, (if known).
 Example: (See next slide)




http://www.hcc.mnscu.edu/chem/V.27/amino_a
cid_structure_2.jpg
http://www.4truth.net/uploadedimages/4truth/Figure%203.j
pg
EXAMPLES OF FORMULA
http://www.reading.ac.uk/scienceoutreach/images/equatio
ns/polytable.gif
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT NATURAL
POLYMERS
 The human body has approximately 100 000 dif ferent
proteins. All of these proteins are made of only 20 dif ferent
amino acids, (which are polymers).
 Polyisoprene, is a polymer harvested from tropical plants. An
example would be the rubber tree, (Hevea brasiliensis). The
sap from the tree is more commonly known as latex.
Polyisoprene
http://www.kew.org/plants/images/
rubber.jpg
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/u
ploads/2008/09/polyisoprene1.png
GREAT RESOURCES
 Great Document:
http://preparatorychemistry.com/Bishop_Book_17_eBook.pdf
 Great Website:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/468696/polymer
 Great Text Book:
General Chemistry Principles & Modern Applications Sixth
Edition-Petrucci Harwood-ISBN 0-02-394931-7
 Great Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAruoKzTwfU
VIDEOS
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkT7cxDsstI –A world
Without Natural Polymers (3:21)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAruoKzTwfU –General
Explanation (3:11)
QUESTIONS?
SOURCES
 Slide 1: None
 Slide 2:
http://www.c hemistr yexplained.com/Pl -Pr/Polymer s -Natural.html#b – Information
Photo cour tesy of “Clip Ar t”
 Slide 3:
I S B N 0 - 0 2 - 3 9 4 9 31 G e n e r a l C h e m i s t r y P r i n c i p l e s & M o d e r n A p p l i c a t i o n s S i x t h E d i t i o n - I n f o r m a t i o n
http://www.epnoe.eu/polysac c harides/a_natural_polymer -Information
http://1 .bp.blogspot.com/_3VdPladRId0/TP5ZFd0nC8I/AAAAAAAAABw/3SW4fIeLf s/s1600/CottonMix.jpg -Photo
 Slide 4:
I S B N 0 - 0 2 - 3 9 4 9 31 G e n e r a l C h e m i s t r y P r i n c i p l e s & M o d e r n A p p l i c a t i o n s S i x t h E d i t i o n – F i r s t Tw o
Definitions
S e c o n d t w o d e f i n i t i o n s – P r e n t i c e H a l l C h e m i s t r y, A n t h o n y C . W i l b r a h a m , I S B N 0 - 1 3 - 2 51 2 1 0 - 6 ,
P a g e s 747 - 7 5 2
L a s t D e f i n i t i o n - P r e n t i c e H a l l C h e m i s t r y, A n t h o n y C . W i l b r a h a m , I S B N 0 - 1 3 - 2 5 1 21 0 - 6 - P a g e 7 2 5
 Slide 5:
http://c1933542.cdn.cloudfiles.rackspacecloud.com/heliconhe2010/ref94.gif -Polythene,
ethene, ethene Diagram
 Slide 6:
Photo Cour tesy of “Clip Ar t’’
SOURCES
 S l i d e 7:
http://www -ics.u-strasbg.fr/~etsp/lecture/mhisto_poly/hero.php -Information
h t t p : / / l o w r e s - p i c t u r e c a b i n e t . c o m . s 3 - e u - w e s t - 1 . a m a z o n a w s . c o m / 4 3 / m a i n / 3 / 8 2 27 0 . j p g - P h o t o
 Slide 8:
h t t p : / / w w w . b ey o n d d i s c o v e r y. o r g / c o n t e n t / v i e w . p a g e . a s p ? I = 2 1 1 – I n f o r m a t i o n
h t t p : / / w w w . b ey o n d d i s c o v e r y. o r g / I n c l u d e s / D i a l o g s / C l o s e u p . a s p ? I D = 1 5 3 2 – P h o t o
 Slide 9:
h t t p : / / w w w . b ey o n d d i s c o v e r y. o r g / c o n t e n t / v i e w . p a g e . a s p ? I = 2 1 1 – I n f o r m a t i o n
 Slide 10:
http://www.c hemistr yexplained.com/Pl -Pr/Polymer s -Natural.html#b
Photo cour tesy of “Clip Ar t”
 Slide 11:
Photo cour tesy of “Clip Ar t”
 Slide 12:
http://www.c hemistr yexplained.com/Pl -Pr/Polymer s -Natural.html#b -Information
h t t p : / / w w w . b u z z l e . c o m / i m g / a r t i c l e I m a g e s / 3 91 4 8 5 - 5 1 517 - 5 . j p g – P o t a t o P h o t o
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/ d9M1JBeo4dI/TbBPQ4WsFXI/AAAAAAAAAFk/SxoMh5QvOhg/s1600/Starch.gif -Diagram
SOURCES
 Slide 13:
http://www.c hemistr yexplained.com/Pl -Pr/Polymer s -Natural.html#b – Information
h t t p : / / h a w a i i . e d u / l yo n a r b o r e t u m / i m a g e s / e d u c a t i o n / P l a n t s - a n d - M e . j p g - P h o t o
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/ d9M1JBeo4dI/TbBPQ4WsFXI/AAAAAAAAAFk/SxoMh5QvOhg/s1600/Starch.gif -Diagram
 Slide 14:
http://www.c hemistr yexplained.com/Pl -Pr/Polymer s -Natural.html#b – Information
http://www.zmescienc e.com/wp -c ontent/uploads/201 2/04/dna.jpg -Photo
 Slide 15:
Photo cour tesy of “Clip Ar t”
 S l i d e 16 :
G e n e r a l C h e m i s t r y P r i n c i p l e s & M o d e r n A p p l i c a t i o n s I S B N : 0 - 0 2 - 3 9 4 9 31 - 7 – I n f o r m a t i o n
h t t p : / / c e r e b r a l e n h a n c e m e n t z o n e . w i k i s p a c e s . c o m / f i l e / v i e w / p e p t i d e _ b o n d . p n g / 2 0 0 31 8 874 / p e p t i
de_bond.png
 S l i d e 17:
h t t p : / / p r e p a r a t o r y c h e m i s t r y. c o m / B i s h o p _ B o o k _ 17 _ e B o o k . p d f - I n f o r m a t i o n
http://guweb2.gonzaga.edu/faculty/cronk/biochem/images/disulfide_bond_formation.gif
 Slide 18:
h t t p : / / p r e p a r a t o r y c h e m i s t r y. c o m / B i s h o p _ B o o k _ 17 _ e B o o k . p d f - I n f o r m a t i o n
h t t p : / / w i k i . c h e m e d d l . o r g / m e d i a w i k i / i m a g e s / 1 / 1 6 / C h a p t e r _ 8 _ p a g e _ 37 - 3 . j p g - P h o t o
SOURCES
 Slide 19:
h t t p : / / u p l o a d . w i k i m e d i a . o r g / w i k i p e d i a / c o m m o n s / t h u m b / b / b 4 / N e x t _ R e v i s i t _ G l u t a m i c _ A c i d _ Ly s i n
e _ s a l t _ b r i d g e . p n g / 3 0 0 p x - N e x t _ R e v i s i t _ G l u t a m i c _ A c i d _ Ly s i n e _ s a l t _ b r i d g e . p n g - P h o t o
 Slide 20:
h t t p : / / w w w . h c c . m n s c u . e d u / c h e m / V. 27 / a m i n o _ a c i d _ s t r u c t u r e _ 2 . j p g - D i a g r a m
h t t p : / / p r e p a r a t o r y c h e m i s t r y. c o m / B i s h o p _ B o o k _ 17 _ e B o o k . p d f - I n f o r m a t i o n
 S l i d e 21 :
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869K/CHEM869KLinks/esg www.mit.edu/esgbio/lm/proteins/aa/aminoacids.gif -Diagram
 Slide 22:
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869K/CHEM869KLinks/esg www.mit.edu/esgbio/lm/proteins/aa/aminoacids.gif -Diagram
 Slide 23:
http://dwb4.unl.edu/Chem/CHEM869K/CHEM869KLinks/esg www.mit.edu/esgbio/lm/proteins/aa/aminoacids.gif -Diagram
 S l i d e 24 :
h t t p : / / p r e p a r a t o r y c h e m i s t r y. c o m / B i s h o p _ B o o k _ 17 _ e B o o k . p d f - I n f o r m a t i o n
http://www.ndt ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Materials/Graphics/PolyethyleneChain.jpg -Photo
SOURCES
 Slide 25:
h t t p : / / c o r n e l l b i o c h e m . w i k i s p a c e s . c o m / f i l e / v i e w / E t h e n e _ p o l y m e r i z a t i o n . p n g / 17 7 8 97 0 61 / E t h e n e
_polymerization.png -Diagram
 Slide 26:
http://www.ausetute.com.au/polymer s.html -Information
h t t p : / / u p l o a d . w i k i m e d i a . o r g / w i k i p e d i a / c o m m o n s / 2 / 27 / E t h e n e _ p o l y m e r i z a t i o n . p n g - D i a g r a m
 S l i d e 27:
h t t p : / / w w w . a u s e t u t e . c o m . a u / p o l y m e r s . h t m l - Ta b l e
 Slide 28:
http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=vinyl+polymer+struc ture&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&qsc rl=1&rlz=1T4A
D FA _ e n C A 41 2 C A 41 3 & b i w = 1 3 6 6 & b i h = 6 1 2 & t b m = i s c h & t b n i d = 1 v X w l AT D u J z a M : & i m g r e f u r l = h t t p : / / w w w . m p c f a c u l t y. n e t / m a r k _ b i s h o p / a d d i t i o n _ p o l y m e r s . h t m & d o
c i d = 8 1 Y 0 1 U 7 P W S D R b M & i m g u r l = h t t p : / / w w w . m p c f a c u l t y. n e t / m a r k _ b i s h o p / p v c _ f o r m a t i o n . j p g & w =
372&h=321&ei=vudgUPuwM8 B 0 A H _ r Y H 4 D Q & z o o m = 1 & i a c t = h c & v p x = 41 5 & v p y = 1 5 2 & d u r = 4 2 6 6 & h o v h = 2 0 9 & h o v w = 24 2 & t x = 1 3 8 & t
y = 1 1 2 & s i g = 1 0 2 1 6 3 2 9 4 0 0 3 0 9 5 376 7 0 8 & p a g e = 1 & t b n h = 1 5 8 & t b n w = 1 8 3 & s t a r t = 0 & n d s p = 17 & v e d = 1 t
:429,r:1,s:0,i:72
 Slide 29:
h t t p : / / w w w . h c c . m n s c u . e d u / c h e m / V. 27 / a m i n o _ a c i d _ s t r u c t u r e _ 2 . j p g - D i a g r a m L e f t
h t t p : / / w w w. 4 t r u t h . n e t / u p l o a d e d i m a g e s / 4 t r u t h / F i g u r e % 2 0 3 . j p g – D i a g r a m R i g h t
SOURCES
 Slide 30:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/sc ienceoutreac h/images/equations/polytable.gif -Diagram
 S l i d e 31 :
http://ww w.c hemistr yexplained.com/Pl -Pr/Polymer s -Natural.html#b – Fir st Fac t
P r e n t i c e H a l l C h e m i s t r y, A n t h o n y C . W i l b r a h a m , I S B N 0 - 1 3 - 2 51 2 1 0 - 6 , P a g e s 747 - 7 5 2 – S e c o n d
Fac t
h t t p : / / w w w. r a i n f o r e s t - a l l i a n c e . o r g / k i d s / s p e c i e s - p r o f i l e s / r u b b e r - t r e e – S e c o n d F a c t
h t t p : / / w w w . k e w . o r g / p l a n t s / i m a g e s / r u b b e r. j p g – R u b b e r Tr e e P h o t o
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/uploads/2008/09/polyisoprene1 .png – Polyisoprene Diagram
 Slide 32-40: (No information used from sources).