What is Polymerization and degree of polymerization?
Author: chemical engineer
Generally, people don't have enough idea about polymerization processes, or what benefits does polymerization offer in this high tech era. Polymerization can simply be explained as a chemical reaction, which occur between the smaller molecules and results in the larger molecules. Or in more technical terms, polymerization can be defined as a chemical process, in which lower molecular weight molecules (named as monomers for polymerization processes) react together to form higher molecular weight molecules (known as polymers).
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What is Polymerization?[/caption]Degree of polymerization is the term, which is used to calculate the number of monomers consumed to form the specific number of polymers, i.e. degree of polymerization is simply the ratio of the monomers to the polymers.
These monomers can either be homo-atoms (i.e. the molecules belong to the same group), or can be the hetero-atoms (i.e. different types of molecules – belongs to different groups). The polymerization process, which occurs between the homo-atoms, is known as addition polymerization, or chain growth polymerization; while the polymerization which occurs between the hetero-atoms based monomers is called as condensation polymerization or step growth polymerization.
The reason behind giving these names to the polymerization processes is very simple. In addition polymerization processes, the monomers usually are unsaturated homo-molecules (i.e. having extra inner linkages in forms of double or triple bonds), when the reaction starts, these extra inner bonds of monomers break and form chain like structures with other monomers in the process; which means that the number of atoms or molecules present as the reactants are same as those of the products, which is why, the empirical formula remains same on both sides of the reaction (reactants and products).
In condensation polymerization, hetero-atoms (i.e. different monomers – belong to different molecules) the monomers don't simply add up together. When the reaction starts, the smaller molecules leave the process (such as water molecules evaporates during the reaction), leaving condensed type process parameters; so, the amount or composition of polymerization product is not same as that of reactants, so the empirical formula of condensation polymers is not same as that of the monomers.
Polymerization process has great importance according to the recycling perspectives too. Many of the recyclable materials are produced with the help of any of the polymerization process. For an instance, plastic materials can be taken as perfect examples of the recyclable materials. Plastics can be produced with the help of polymerization processes.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/what-is-polymerization-and-degree-of-polymerization-6522274.html
About the Author
I am a chemical engineer by profession. I like to be in touch with all the latest advancements and technologies in my field. Whether its about viscosity of water, or heat transfer coefficient, I love to increase my knowledge.
