What is a polymer? Is it a piece of a natural resource that has been broken down before it is recycled into new materials or is it a chain of repeating compounds found in both natural and synthetic materials or is it a natural resource formed on earth from plant or animal remains, or is it a natural resource used to make synthetic materials?

Answer 1

A polymer is best defined as a chain of repeating compounds, which can be found in both natural and synthetic materials. Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating structural units called monomers, which are connected by covalent chemical bonds. They can be natural, such as proteins, DNA, and cellulose, or synthetic, such as plastics like polyethylene and nylon.

The other options you listed relate to different concepts:

• Breaking down a natural resource refers more to processes like recycling or decomposition, not the definition of polymers themselves.
• A natural resource formed from plant or animal remains typically refers to fossil fuels or other organic matter, rather than polymers specifically.
• While natural resources can be used to make synthetic materials, this does not define what a polymer is.

Therefore, the correct definition of a polymer is the one that describes it as a chain of repeating compounds found in both natural and synthetic materials.