Category Chemistry

          Yes, there are polymers that can be eaten. In fact, we consume a lot of polymers daily without even thinking about it. Don’t be surprised. Think of a chicken burger. Chicken contains a lot of protein and the bun contains starch. Both protein and starch are polymers.

          Proteins make up a major chunk of our body; it constitutes organs, muscles and fingernails. Milk, eggs, meat, seeds and nuts are protein rich foods. Starch is a polysaccharide with high molecular weight. Our body breaks down starch into glucose which gives us energy to work and play. In short, polymers give us energy to do everything. Foods like corn, potatoes and bread are rich in starch.

          Cellulose is also present in vegetables and grains, but we cannot digest it.

          You won’t be wrong if you say that life on Earth won’t be possible without polymers. Wonder why? Look at what our body is made of. Our body contains proteins, peptides and enzymes. These wouldn’t be possible if not for RNA, which is a polymer. RNA makes possible the synthesis of proteins and enzymes. Our hair is made of keratin, a protein and skin is constituted of polymerized collagen. DNA contains the basic programming of our body. DNA too is a polymer.

          Polymers make up not only the human body, but also plants and animals. A rhino’s horn is made of keratin while cell walls of plants are made of cellulose. The list does not end here. Several other polymers like chitin are found in organisms like crabs. Let us now take a close look at different natured polymers.

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           Biodegradable polymers are decomposed by microorganisms like bacteria. While decomposing, they produce natural by-products like gases, water and inorganic salts. Wood is a natural biodegradable polymer.

          Are natural polymers the only biodegradable ones? Not really. Some synthetic polymers are also biodegradable and they do not have any adverse effect on the environment. Remember vitamin E capsules? The shell of the capsule is made of a biodegradable polymer. Surgical bands and sutures also make use of biodegradable polymers. Polylactic acid used for packaging is yet another example. 

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          Think of hospital equipment that is used for processes like sterilization. Any idea about the kind of polymers used in them as they need to withstand high temperature?

          Some polymers are stable at very high temperatures. These polymers have strong force of attraction between the molecules. They also have special network structure. Some additives are added to some of these polymers which enhance their thermal resistance.

          These polymers are usually known as high temperature polymers and can withstand a service temperature greater than 150 degrees. They can even withstand temperatures higher than 250 degrees for a short span. They are very expensive and hence are used in small amounts.

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          Polymers can be arranged in two formations. If the molecules do not have a long-range order, the polymer chain has an amorphous arrangement. Amorphous polymers are generally transparent.

          Contact lenses, plastic windows and transparent food wraps are generally made of amorphous polymers.

          What about polymers those are not transparent? Translucent and opaque polymers have crystalline arrangement of molecules. Here, the atoms and ions are arranged in definite patterns. Generally, the amount of light that can pass through a polymer decreases with increasing amounts of crystallinity. So, the opaqueness of a polymer is an indicator of the degree of crystallinity.

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                    Think of the human body. What is it that gives us our shape? The skeleton of course. Without the skeleton, we would be a lump of flesh. Similarly all polymers have a skeleton which gives them their structure. Organic polymers have a carbon backbone. Their monomers are simple organic compounds.

           On the other hand, the backbone of an inorganic polymer is constituted by elements other than carbon, say phosphorous or sulphur. Most of the organic polymers have simple structures while inorganic polymers are highly branched with complex structures.

           Though they have carbon bonding, graphite and diamond are inorganic polymers. This is because they are constituted by carbon atoms alone which crosslink to give their structure.

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