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Showing posts with label Chemistry Theory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chemistry Theory. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Facts About Organic Chemistry


Pertaining to the study of carbon compounds which are covalent in their molecular bonding with another element, Organic chemistry is one of the most important subparts of chemistry, and is considered to be a part of high school education expecting most educated people to have knowledge in the subject. The purview of Organic chemistry involves the reaction and behavior between various covalent carbon compounds and how their presence in common substances affects the usage methods, techniques and scope. Another area of study is the structure of organic compounds at the molecular level and inventions, tests and discoveries based on the synthesis of various organic substances.
The study of Organic chemistry by school students may be found complicated, especially with the nomenclature and various reactions that converge to a certain, may be minor characteristic of the organic substances being studied. It is an important advice that you should never skip a chapter or lesson and proceed to another. Understanding Organic chemistry requires your base to be extra strong especially due to the busy involvement the nomenclature and uniquely different behavior of different organic substances.
While learning the lessons an important tip is to use notes. Set your goals and maintain the schedule. Avoiding this can lead to a laborious session of picking up where you had left the last time.

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The World of Polymer Chemistry


Many of you have heard or learned about Polymer in school. In layman's term, it is known to many as "Plastics", just like what my mother would call these group of substances.
Polymers are an important class of covalent molecular compounds in which the molecules are very big (macromolecules) and are made up of a large number of small repeating units or molecules linked together.
There may be several thousand repeating units in a polymer molecule. These small units from which polymers are made are called Monomers.
The properties of polymers, which depend largely on the size of their molecules, are quite different from the properties of their monomers.
However in recent years advances in science have enabled scientists to produce a wide range of man-made polymers.
Polymers can be man-made (synthetic) or natural.
Examples of Natural Polymers are:
1. Protein
2. Carbohydrates
3. Fats
Examples of Synthetic Polymers are:
1. Polyethene (PE)
2. Polychloroethene or generally known as Polyvinylchloride (PVC) - shown in the image (PVC water pipes)
3. Polypropene (PP)
4. Polytetrafluoroethene (PTFE)
5. Terylene (a polyester)
6. Nylon (a polyamide)
Polymers are getting more and more usage and applications in our everyday lives these days. It is seen to be used in common items used in homes as well as sophisticated items used in engineering industries, replacing Metals to a very large extent.
Polymers have the following desirable properties that make them so commonly used these days:
1. Light (Low Density as compared to Metals)
2. Does not corrode (Most metals corrode after sometime)
3. Equally strong (some engineering polymers as compared to metals)
4. Easy to mould and shape (their melting point is lower than metals)
5. More new polymer products can be made by blending different polymers together
6. Non-brittle (additives can be added to polymer so that they are not so brittle as compared to ceramics)
We shall see more polymer products that are once made by metals, ceramics and wood in our everyday lives.

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