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Molecule vs Polymer - What's the difference?

molecule | polymer |

As nouns the difference between molecule and polymer

is that molecule is the smallest particle of a specific element or compound that retains the chemical properties of that element or compound; two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds while polymer is a long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.

molecule

Noun

  • (chemistry) The smallest particle of a specific element or compound that retains the chemical properties of that element or compound; two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=September-October, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= In the News , passage=The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom. This system splits water molecules' and delivers some of their electrons to other ' molecules that help build up carbohydrates.}}
  • A tiny amount.
  • Synonyms

    * See also * (small amount) see also .

    Meronyms

    * atom

    polymer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (organic chemistry) A long or larger molecule consisting of a chain or network of many repeating units, formed by chemically bonding together many identical or similar small molecules called monomers. A polymer is formed by polymerization, the joining of many monomer molecules.
  • A material consisting of such polymer molecules.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Charles T. Ambrose
  • , title= Alzheimer’s Disease , volume=101, issue=3, page=200, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.}}

    Derived terms

    * biopolymer * inorganic polymer * oligopolymer * polymeric * polymerize

    See also

    * dimer * monomer * oligomer * trimer * superpolymer ----