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Polymer vs Cellulose - What's the difference?

polymer | cellulose |

As nouns the difference between polymer and cellulose

is that 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 while cellulose is a complex carbohydrate that forms the main constituent of the cell wall in most plants and is important in the manufacture of numerous products, such as paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and explosives.

As an adjective cellulose is

consisting of, or containing, cells.

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 ----

    cellulose

    Noun

  • A complex carbohydrate that forms the main constituent of the cell wall in most plants and is important in the manufacture of numerous products, such as paper, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and explosives.
  • (organic compound) A polysaccharide containing many glucose units in parallel chains.
  • Synonyms

    * when used as an emulsifier

    Derived terms

    * cellulose acetate * cellulose nitrate * lignocellulose

    See also

    * cellophane * celluloid * pentosan

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Consisting of, or containing, cells.
  • ----