Polymers

A polymer is a material made of very long chains of tiny parts. Each tiny part is called a monomer. When many monomers link up, they make a polymer. Some polymers come from nature, like wool and wood. Others are made by people, like plastic and nylon.

Natural Polymers

Many things in nature are polymers. Wood, silk, rubber, and cotton are all polymers. Even parts of your body, like hair and skin, are made of polymers. DNA, which tells your cells what to do, is also a very long polymer. Plants and animals make these natural materials all the time.

A model shows how tiny parts link up to form a long polymer chain.
A model shows how tiny parts link up to form a long polymer chain. (Ben Mills and Jynto / Wikimedia Commons)

Man-Made Polymers

People learned how to make their own polymers about a hundred years ago. Plastic bags, bottles, and toys are made from man-made polymers. Nylon is a polymer used in clothes and ropes. These materials are cheap and easy to shape. But many do not break down, so they can be bad for the Earth.

Fun Facts

  • The word 'polymer' comes from Greek words meaning 'many parts.'
  • Your DNA is a natural polymer that is coiled up inside every cell.
  • Rubber bands are made from polymers that can stretch and snap back.

Did You Know?

A single polymer chain can have thousands or even millions of monomers linked together like beads on a string.