The term polymer defined as

Options

A. small molecules
B. large molecules
C. small molecule with high molecular mass
D. large molecule with high molecular mass

Answer

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Definition of Polymers:**
Polymers are defined as large molecules that consist of repeating structural units known as monomers. These monomers are covalently bonded together to form a long chain, resulting in a high molecular mass.

2. **Characteristics of Polymers:**
- **Large Molecular Size:** Polymers are characterized by their large size compared to small molecules.
- **High Molecular Mass:** The molecular mass of polymers is significantly higher due to the repeated units of monomers.

3. **Monomers and Repeating Units:**
- A polymer is formed by the chemical bonding of many monomer units. For example, in the case of polystyrene, the repeating unit is derived from styrene monomers.
- The process of forming polymers from monomers is known as polymerization.

4. **Examples of Polymers:**
- Common examples of polymers include polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Each of these is made up of different types of monomers that repeat to form the polymer chain.

5. **Applications of Polymers:**
- Polymers are widely used in various applications, including packaging materials, textiles, plastics, and many other industrial products due to their versatile properties.