Polymer

/ˈpɑːlɪmər/ noun

Definition

A polymer is a substance made of very long chains of repeating small units called monomers. Many common materials, like plastics, rubber, and even DNA, are polymers.

Etymology

From Greek *poly-* “many” and *meros* “part.” The name literally means “many parts,” describing its structure of repeated building blocks.

Kelly Says

The same basic idea—tiny units snapped together—covers plastic bags, your hair, and your genetic code. Once you understand polymers, you realize the modern world and living bodies are both built from the same design trick.

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