Introduction to Polymers
Polymers is one of the most important topics to learn about, in chemistry and the types of polymers and the difference between natural polymers and synthetic polymers are one of the important sub-topics which covers a good weightage in exams as well as it is a basic foundation that is needed to be learned if you’re thinking of having your career in a scientific field in the future.
Basically, polymers are materials or substances that consist of very large macromolecules or molecules which have a repeating chain of their units. Polymers can be seen everywhere around us in our daily lives too, be it from simple to simple things to large size things. Polymers in chemistry have been categorized into two types which are as follows:
Natural polymers
Synthetic polymers
Now, what’s the difference between natural polymers and synthetic polymers and how the knowledge between their differences can help us to distinguish between the materials present in our near surroundings. First, let us understand the difference between natural polymers and synthetic polymers, natural polymers can be understood as the ones which have occurred as the result of natural processes or biological processes and they can be found anywhere in nature like in animals plants and even in the human body in the form of proteins, fats amino acids etc. whereas synthetic polymers can be differentiated from natural polymers by a single term which is natural that is synthetic polymers are the ones which are created in the laboratories by using artificial means or in simple language could be stated as the one which does not occur naturally or by a natural process. A few common examples of synthetic polymers which could be seen in daily life are acrylic, polythene, Teflon, PVC etc.
Polymers are everywhere around us. Whenever we take a look at our surroundings or our house, we find various items made of polymers. Everything that comes under your observation is made of polymer, natural or synthetic. You should know that polymers are a topic that we study in the subject of chemistry. When we consider a topic, it has to be in detail. Here, in this article, the focus will be on natural polymers, synthetic polymers and the difference between the two. Let us start with polymers first. A polymer is a large molecule that forms by the repeated actions of monomers or smaller molecules. Let’s move on to the types.
What is Natural Polymer?
Natural polymer is a material that is a result of the biological process. It is present in the human body and also in other forms of life such as plants and animals. Proteins, amino acids, peptides, RNA, and DNA, are all forms of natural polymers found in the biological system. In plants and animal life. Also, we can find natural polymers in one or the other type. Examples of natural polymers are wool, silk, honey, and others.
What is Synthetic Polymer?
Synthetic polymers are those materials that are a result of a process that takes place in a laboratory. As the name suggests, synthetic is something that is not natural. So, we can say that it is made in laboratories and factories by human beings. The persons who make this material can be scientists or engineers. The most common examples of synthetic polymers are PVC, acrylic, Teflon, and polythene.
Difference Between Natural and Synthetic Polymers
It helps to have a better understanding of exactly the difference between natural and synthetic polymers. This way, it is easy to get a grasp of the two terms. As mentioned earlier, the natural polymer is an essential component of the biological system. By biological system, we mean the human body. The term also includes plant and animal life. Starch, protein, carbohydrates are good examples of natural polymers.
A synthetic polymer is that that finds its way from the laboratory through many chemical processes. As you know, synthetic is human-made. It is a polymer that is synthesized in a laboratory. This material has vast applications in our day-to-day life. Polyethene, PVC, Bakelite, nylon, and synthetic rubbers are solid examples of synthetic polymers.
We can write down the major points of difference between the two types of polymers as follows.
Difference Between Natural and Synthetic Polymers
Examples of Natural Polymers
Natural polymers are available in nature by the biological process. Most of the chemical compounds that are present in biological systems are polymer compounds. These natural polymers are primarily found in our environment, in our surroundings, and within the human system. Now, these polymers of the natural kind have three classifications – polysaccharides, polyamides, and polynucleotides.
Polysaccharides are polymers that are made of monosaccharide particles. Common monosaccharides are glucose, fructose, galactose, and others. Polysaccharides are also found in animals and plant life. In plants, it is present as starch as stored carbohydrate, and in animals, it is stored carbohydrate present as glycogen.
Polyamides, amino acids, and polypeptides are all-natural polymers found in a biological system. The polynucleotides include RNA and DNA.
The inspiration behind the production of Synthetic polymers is natural polymers. Scientists and engineers studied the natural polymer configuration and worked out a way to obtain the synthetic form. This type of artificial polymer is obtained from petroleum oil. Synthetic polymers get a further classification that has a base in the method of production, the components in use etc.
Some of the polymers are a result of condensation whereas some polymers are products of addition. Polymers obtained from condensation are known as condensation polymers and from addition, polymerization is known as addition polymers.
Besides, some of the synthetic polymers get a classification as organic and inorganic polymers. Organic polymers are made of hydrocarbon particles whereas inorganic polymers are not made from hydrocarbons. Examples of this type of synthetic polymers are polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, Teflon, and others. Fig.2
Need of Studying Polymers
As we now know about what polymers are and the difference between natural polymers and synthetic polymers and what important role they play in our daily life which also leads us to give an idea that what more possibilities could be there of forming synthetic polymers to develop several different materials or products using the polymerization technique. Scientists have been working on the polymers and their possible alignments to develop and enhance the products that are being used in our daily lives, also polymer nanotechnology is a keyword that is being denoted as the advanced future of polymers. Hence, polymers can be seen and considered as an important topic to study in Chemistry and research as well.
FAQs on Difference Between Natural Polymers and Synthetic Polymers for JEE Main 2024
1. What are the Uses of Natural Polymers?
By now, you have understood that natural polymers are found in a natural way in our surroundings and within the biological systems of any life. Some excellent examples of natural polymers are wool, silk, natural rubbers, and honey that we get from our surroundings, from plants and animals. Starch and proteins are also natural polymers. The cellulose in vegetables and grains that form the fiber in our food is natural. Cellulose and starch are made from sugar; hence they are all polysaccharides which means many sugars. So, the uses of natural polymer are various in our daily life.
2. What are the Uses of Synthetic Polymers in Our Daily Life?
You know that synthetic polymer is what we get as a result of chemical processes that take place in laboratories and factories. Some of the daily items that we use in our routine, in our house, in the office, at school - are made of synthetic polymer. Teflon, polythene, acrylic, PA, and PP are the different forms of synthetic polymer. It is in use in all its varied forms such as Teflon-coated non-stick pots and pans, polyvinyl chloride in pipes, and polythene. The PET bottles that you use for drinking water are made from synthetic polymer- the chemical name for this type of plastic is polyethylene terephthalate.
3. When was polymer first found and by whom?
The word polymer has been derived from the Greek word ‘poly’ which means many and ‘mer’ which means a part that gives quite a brief introduction to the property of polymers. The first polymer was developed by Henri Braconnot along with Christian Schönbein and a few others with them in the year 1830, where together they developed natural polymer cellulose (cellulose is a natural linear polymer which comprises of glucose units formed generally in the synthesis process of plants) of a semi-synthetic material which is now commonly known as cellulose acetate and celluloid.
4. What are the different properties of polymers?
Polymers can be categorized in different categories based on their properties such as their physical and chemical properties, their strength and their thermal properties or electrical or optical properties etc. The properties of polymers can also vary depending on their different usage and performance grades in industries. Often polymers are mixed with additives and reinforcements to meet different needs required in the market or to reach a particular approach towards the desired goal.
5. Why do different polymers have different properties?
Different polymers have different properties as we can see many applications and examples of polymers in our daily life each one of them possess a different special property that defines them or separates one from the other and makes them distinguishable. The basic reason for having different properties among different polymers is because every single polymer has its own unique chemical composition or bonding(different monomer unit) different structures and different method of fabrication like blow molding, thermoforming, compression molding, Heat and pressure which allows in manipulating the property of the polymer as per the requirements.