Key terms & definitions

A simple polymer whose large molecules contain long chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms.

A polymer used in packaging laminates to resist moisture movement and help bond paperboard to aluminium foil.

The practice of having more than one spouse at the same time.

Marriage to more than one spouse at the same time.

A marriage arrangement in which an individual has more than one spouse at the same time.

A characteristic influenced by multiple genes rather than by only one gene.

A characteristic influenced by many genes, such as human height.

The control of one phenotypic feature by several genes acting together.

The inheritance of a characteristic controlled by more than one gene.

A score combining the small effects of many genomic variants to estimate a person's likelihood of developing a particular condition.

A flat, closed shape made from straight sides.

A form of polygamy in which a man has more than one wife at the same time.

A marriage arrangement in which a man has more than one wife at the same time.

A 3D shape bounded entirely by flat polygonal faces.

A large molecule made from repeating smaller units.

A large molecule made from many smaller units joined in a chain.

A substance consisting of very large molecules in which a group of atoms repeats many times, joined by covalent bonds.

A material made of large molecules containing many repeating units. The plastics used in products are polymer-based materials.

The continuous chain of bonded atoms running through a polymer molecule; in the addition polymers considered here, it is a carbon chain.

A process in which heated metal is dipped into polymer powder, which melts onto the surface to form a plastic coating.

The joining of many small monomer molecules to form a larger polymer molecule.

The reaction in which many monomer molecules join together to form a polymer.

The reaction in which many small molecules join together to form long-chain molecules.

The chemical joining of small molecules called monomers to form long-chain molecules called polymers.

A thermoplastic, also called polycaprolactone or PCL, that softens in hot water, can be moulded and becomes rigid on cooling.

An expression made from a finite sum of constant multiples of non-negative whole-number powers of a variable, such as $2x^3-x+6$.

A chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.

A polymer chain formed when many amino-acid monomers join by condensation polymerisation.

The naturally occurring enzyme in fruits and vegetables that enables reactions leading to brown pigments when damaged tissue is exposed to oxygen.

The repetition of words formed from the same root, such as ‘leave’ and ‘leaving’.