1. Chapter 24-1: Introduction to Polymers and Biopolymers
General Definitions
Drawing Polymers (short-hand method)
Examples of manufactured and natural polymers
Unintended consequences of polymers from non- renewable feedstocks
Biopolymers: Proteins from Amino Acid Monomer Units
Amino acid structure, chirality, R-groups
Amino acid pKa values of acidic groups
Peptide structure based on pKa and pH

2. 24-1 Polymers - Definitions
Long chains of simple molecules (monomers) linked or polymerized together (polymer).
Can be same monomer, 2-3 repeating monomers, random monomers: a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a a-x-a-x-a-x-a-x-a-x-a-x-a-x-a-x-a a-d-c-w-w-d-a-r-s-s-s-c-a-c-a-f-q
Many examples in nature as well as produced commercially in the chemical industry.

3. Drawing Polymers Indicate repeating units (monomers) in parentheses:
A-B-C-A-B-C-A-B-C-A-B-C-A-B-C = -(A-B-C)-n
Polymers made of random repeating units (monomers) must be completely written out, or each monomer given an abbreviation such as the amino acids in proteins, or nucleic acids in polynucleotides.

4. Examples of the Repeating Units of some Common Polymers

5. Examples of the Repeating Units of some Common Polymers

6. Examples of the Repeating Units of some Common Polymers

7. Lignins – Natural Polymers
Lignins are random polymers that form the backbone of wood. Lignins are the most abundant polymers in the world.

8. Polymers – Sustainability?

9. Synthetic Polymers: PLASTICS

11. What is Micro-plastic Pollution?
Tiny plastic pieces that break off of plastic trash.
Found in lakes, rivers, streams and Especially the oceans.
Can harm fish, end up in the food chain, and affect our health.
Major plastic pollution problem and found around the world.

12. Natural Polymers: Polysaccharides
Sucrose
Maltose
Lactose
Amylopectin

13. Nucleic Acids
DNA molecules are polymers based on specific sequences of the nucleic acids.

14. Proteins - Biopolymers
The 20 natural amino acid monomers are chemically linked together through amide bonds to form “polypeptide chains” - the backbone 1o structure in peptides and proteins.
Chains with fewer than 50 amino acids are called “peptides” while “proteins” are larger chains.
The field of Biochemistry studies the structural, physiological, and catalytic chemistry of proteins.
An introduction to the chemistry of peptide and protein biopolymers is in the next video.

15. Summary 24-1 Based on this video you should be able to:
Take monomers and link together into a polymer; write out full polymer chain and the abbreviation based on the repeating units.
Take a polymer and be able to identify the monomer units
Be generally aware of the importance of polymers in our everyday lives
Be generally aware of the “unintended consequences” of our society’s addiction to synthetic polymers
Be aware that biopolymers found in nature are a viable alternative to those made from crude oil feedstock. Biopolymers are biodegradable, and fulfill the life cycle criteria of being reusable at the end of useful live.