CK-12 Physical Science Concepts - For Middle School

http://www.ck12.org Chapter 3. Chemical Interactions

Synthetic Carbon Polymers

Synthetic carbon polymers are produced in labs or factories. Plastics are common examples of synthetic carbon
polymers. You are probably familiar with the plastic called polyethylene. All of the plastic items pictured in the
Figure3.50 are made of polyethylene. It consists of repeating monomers of ethylene (C 2 H 4 ). Structural formulas
for ethylene and polyethylene are also shown in theFigure3.51. To learn more about synthetic carbon polymers
and how they form, go to this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nCfbZwGWK8

MEDIA

Click image to the left for use the URL below.

URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/5089

FIGURE 3.50

FIGURE 3.51

Summary

• Carbon has a unique ability to form many covalent bonds, so it often forms polymers. A polymer is a large
  molecule that is made up of many smaller, repeating molecules, called monomers, which are joined together
  by covalent bonds.


• Natural polymers include rubber and cellulose. Synthetic polymers include plastics such as polyethylene.