The word polymer has a Greek origin. which means many units( parts). Polymer is defined as a chemical substance of a high molecular mass formed by the combination of a large number of simple molecules, called monomers. e. g.,
Polymerisation
The process by which the monomers get combined and transformed into polymers. is known as polymerisation.
n [ Monomer ] → Polymer
Difference between Polymers and Macromolecules
Polymers are also called macromolecules due to their large size but converse is not always true. A macromolecule mayor may not contain monomer units, e. g., chlorophyll( C55H72O5N4Mg) is a macromolecule but not a polymer since there are no monomer units present so we can conclude that all polymers are macromolecules while all macromolecules may not be polymers in nature.
Classification of Polymers Based on Source of Origin
( i) Natural polymers: Those polymers which occur in nature. i. e., in plants or animals. are called natural polymers.
( ii) Synthetic polymers: The polymers which are prepared in the laboratory are known as synthetic polymers or man-made polymers, e. g., polythene, synthetic rubber, PVC, nylon-66, teflon, orlon etc.