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A monomer (/ˈmɒnəmər/ MON-ə-mər; mono-, "one" + -mer, "part") is a molecule that can react together with other monomer molecules to form a larger polymer chain or three-dimensional network in a process called polymerization.^[1]^[2]^[3]

IUPAC definition

Monomer molecule: A molecule which can undergo polymerization, thereby contributing constitutional units to the essential structure of a macromolecule.^[4]

Classification

Chemistry classifies monomers by type, and two broad classes based on the type of polymer they form.

By type:

natural vs synthetic, e.g. glycine vs caprolactam, respectively
polar vs nonpolar, e.g. vinyl acetate vs ethylene, respectively
cyclic vs linear, e.g. ethylene oxide vs ethylene glycol, respectively

By type of polymer they form:

those that participate in condensation polymerization
those that participate in addition polymerization

Differing stoichiometry^[5] causes each class to create its respective form of polymer.

The polymerization of one kind of monomer gives a homopolymer. Many polymers are copolymers, meaning that they are derived from two different monomers. In the case of condensation polymerizations, the ratio of comonomers is usually 1:1. For example, the formation of many nylons requires equal amounts of a dicarboxylic acid and diamine. In the case of addition polymerizations, the comonomer content is often only a few percent. For example, small amounts of 1-octene monomer are copolymerized with ethylene to give specialized polyethylene.

Synthetic monomers

Ethylene gas (H₂C=CH₂) is the monomer for polyethylene.
Other modified ethylene derivatives include:
- tetrafluoroethylene (F₂C=CF₂) which leads to Teflon
- vinyl chloride (H₂C=CHCl) which leads to PVC
- styrene (C₆H₅CH=CH₂) which leads to polystyrene
Epoxide monomers may be cross linked with themselves, or with the addition of a co-reactant, to form epoxy
BPA is the monomer precursor for polycarbonate
Terephthalic acid is a comonomer that, with ethylene glycol, forms polyethylene terephthalate.
Dimethylsilicon dichloride is a monomer that, upon hydrolysis, gives polydimethylsiloxane.
Ethyl methacrylate is an acrylic monomer that, when combined with an acrylic polymer, catalyzes and forms an acrylate plastic used to create artificial nail extensions

Biopolymers

The term "monomeric protein" may also be used to describe one of the proteins making up a multiprotein complex.^[6]

Natural monomers

Some of the main biopolymers are listed below:

Amino acids

For proteins, the monomers are amino acids. Polymerization occurs at ribosomes. Usually about 20 types of amino acid monomers are used to produce proteins. Hence proteins are not homopolymers.

Nucleotides

For polynucleic acids (DNA/RNA), the monomers are nucleotides, each of which is made of a pentose sugar, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group. Nucleotide monomers are found in the cell nucleus. Four types of nucleotide monomers are precursors to DNA and four different nucleotide monomers are precursors to RNA.

Glucose and related sugars

For carbohydrates, the monomers are monosaccharides. The most abundant natural monomer is glucose, which is linked by glycosidic bonds into the polymers cellulose, starch, and glycogen.^[7]

Isoprene

Isoprene is a natural monomer that polymerizes to form a natural rubber, most often cis-1,4-polyisoprene, but also trans-1,4-polymer. Synthetic rubbers are often based on butadiene, which is structurally related to isoprene.

Notes

^ Young, R. J. (1987) Introduction to Polymers, Chapman & Hall ISBN 0-412-22170-5
^ International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, et al. (2000) IUPAC Gold Book, Polymerization
^ Clayden, Jonathan; Greeves, Nick; Warren, Stuart; Wothers, Peter (2001). Organic Chemistry (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 1450–1466. ISBN 978-0-19-850346-0.
^ Jenkins, A. D.; Kratochvíl, P.; Stepto, R. F. T.; Suter, U. W. (1996). "Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 68 (12): 2287–2311. doi:10.1351/pac199668122287.
^ D. Margerison; G. C. East; J. E. Spice (1967). An Introduction to Polymer Chemistry. Pergamon Press. ISBN 978-0-08-011891-8.
^ Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Otin Raff, Keith Roberts, and Peter Walter, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2008, Garland Science, ISBN 978-0-8153-4105-5.
^ Ebuengan, Kaye. "Biomolecules: Classification and structural properties of carbohydrates". Academia.edu.

[1] Young, R. J. (1987) Introduction to Polymers, Chapman & Hall ISBN 0-412-22170-5

[2] International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, et al. (2000) IUPAC Gold Book, Polymerization

[clayden_organic-3] Clayden, Jonathan; Greeves, Nick; Warren, Stuart; Wothers, Peter (2001). Organic Chemistry (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. pp. 1450–1466. ISBN 978-0-19-850346-0.

[4] Jenkins, A. D.; Kratochvíl, P.; Stepto, R. F. T.; Suter, U. W. (1996). "Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)". Pure and Applied Chemistry. 68 (12): 2287–2311. doi:10.1351/pac199668122287.

[5] D. Margerison; G. C. East; J. E. Spice (1967). An Introduction to Polymer Chemistry. Pergamon Press. ISBN 978-0-08-011891-8.

[6] Bruce Alberts, Alexander Johnson, Julian Lewis, Otin Raff, Keith Roberts, and Peter Walter, Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2008, Garland Science, ISBN 978-0-8153-4105-5.

[7] Ebuengan, Kaye. "Biomolecules: Classification and structural properties of carbohydrates". Academia.edu.

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