What is the fundamental difference between homopolymers and copolymers?

Homopolymers are made up of only one type of monomer, while copolymers consist of two or more different types of monomers.

Fill in the blank: The process by which monomers are joined to form polymers is called ___.

Polymerisation

True or False: All copolymers have a perfectly alternating arrangement of monomer units.

False. Most copolymers tend more towards an alternating type but have many random imperfections.

What type of copolymer features monomer units that are distributed randomly throughout the polymer chain?

Random copolymer

Fill in the blank: Polymers that consist of branched chains typically have ___ melting points compared to linear polymers.

Lower

What are the characteristics of cross-linked or three-dimensional network polymers?

They are hard, rigid, and brittle due to the joining of linear polymeric chains into a three-dimensional structure.

Explain how graft copolymers are formed.

Graft copolymers are formed by irradiating a homopolymer chain in the presence of a second monomer, which generates radical sites for polymerization.

True or False: Synthetic polymers are always designed to mimic natural polymers.

False. Synthetic polymers are man-made and can have properties distinct from natural polymers.

What type of polymerization involves the loss of small molecules during the formation of polymers?

Condensation polymerization

What distinguishes semi-synthetic polymers from natural and synthetic polymers?

Semi-synthetic polymers are derived from natural polymers, typically modified for enhanced properties.

Describe the general characteristics of branched chain polymers.

Branched chain polymers do not pack well, leading to lower melting points, densities, and tensile strengths compared to linear polymers.

What is the role of functional groups in the formation of condensation polymers?

Functional groups must be present for polymerization, and at least two functional groups are required to form linear or cross-linked structures.

Fill in the blank: The repeating units in a polymer are known as ___.

Monomers

What type of polymer is formed when monomers with three functional groups are used?

Cross-linked polymer

Explain the significance of the terminal units in a polymer chain.

The terminal units determine the nature of the linkages and influence the physical properties of the polymer.

What are the main characteristics of synthetic polymers?

Synthetic polymers are man-made, often designed for specific applications, and can have unique properties not found in natural polymers.