monomer

[ mon-uh-mer ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a molecule of low molecular weight capable of reacting with identical or different molecules of low molecular weight to form a polymer.

monomer

/ ˌmɒnəˈmɛrɪk; ˈmɒnəmə /

noun

1. chem a compound whose molecules can join together to form a polymer

monomer

/ mŏn′ə-mər /

1. A molecule that can combine with others of the same kind to form a polymer. Glucose molecules, for example, are monomers that can combine to form the polymer cellulose. Polymers can also be composed of different kinds of monomers.

Derived Forms

• monomeric, adjective

Other Words From

• mon·o·mer·ic [mon-, uh, -, mer, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monomer¹

First recorded in 1910–15; mono- + -mer

Example Sentences

Her lab is figuring out how to induce microbes to convert sugar from plants into monomers that can then be chemically converted into polymers to create plastic.

From MIT Technology Review

Piecing pure monomers back together creates plastic that’s good as new.

From Science News For Students

Those monomers can then be separated from dyes and other contaminants.

From Science News For Students

The molecules that make up plastics are called polymers, which are made of smaller monomers.

From Science News

Simply dunking the plastic in an acid solution with a pH of 1 or 2 is enough to break the bonds between its monomer building blocks.

From Science News