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Polymers and Monomers of 4 Macromolecules in Chemical Engineering
On the polymers and monomers of the four types of macromolecules in the chemical industry
The science of chemical engineering is related to the change of all things. Among the four types of macromolecules, the theory of polymers and monomers is quite important.
One is protein. The monomer of protein is amino acid. Amino acids are compounds with amino groups and carboxyl groups. Many amino acids are connected by peptide bonds to form polymers of proteins. The combination of this peptide bond is just like the way that craftsmen use mortise and tenon to connect the components to construct complex and diverse structures of proteins. There are many kinds of amino acids, about 20 kinds, each with a unique side chain structure. This difference makes the function of proteins ever-changing. They are either catalyzed enzymes or transport carriers, and are essential in life activities.
The second is nucleic acid. The monomer of nucleic acid is nucleotide. Nucleotides are composed of nitrogenous bases, pentacarbose and phosphoric acid. Nucleotides are connected to each other by phosphate diester bonds to form a polymer of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are divided into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The pentacarbose of DNA is deoxyribose, and RNA is ribose. Nitrogen-containing bases are also different. There are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T) in DNA; thymine (T) in RNA is easily uracil (U). Nucleic acids carry genetic information and control the inheritance and variation of life, just like a precise life codebook.
Another is polysaccharides. The monomers of polysaccharides are often monosaccharides. Common monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, etc. Glucose molecules are connected by glycosidic bonds to form a variety of polysaccharide polymers. For example, starch is a polysaccharide for plant energy storage. It is polymerized from glucose and connected by alpha-glycosidic bonds. The structure is divided into straight chain and branch chain. The carbohydrate principle is a polysaccharide that stores energy in animals. Its structure is similar to that of starch, but its branches are more dense. Cellulose is also a polymer of glucose, which is connected by β-glycosidic bonds and is the main component of plant cell walls, giving plant cells strength and toughness.
Finally, some macromolecules in lipids, such as fats. Although different from the first three categories, its polymers can be regarded as triglycerides formed by esterification of glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups, and fatty acids contain carboxyl groups, which are esterified to form fats. The chain length and saturation of fatty acids vary, which affect the physical and chemical properties of fats. At room temperature, the fats composed of saturated fatty acids are mostly solid, and the unsaturated fatty acids are mostly liquid.
To sum up, the polymers and monomers of these four types of macromolecules in the chemical industry have their own characteristics and interactions, and are widely used in many fields such as life science and materials science, which is the key to chemical research.
The science of chemical engineering is related to the change of all things. Among the four types of macromolecules, the theory of polymers and monomers is quite important.
One is protein. The monomer of protein is amino acid. Amino acids are compounds with amino groups and carboxyl groups. Many amino acids are connected by peptide bonds to form polymers of proteins. The combination of this peptide bond is just like the way that craftsmen use mortise and tenon to connect the components to construct complex and diverse structures of proteins. There are many kinds of amino acids, about 20 kinds, each with a unique side chain structure. This difference makes the function of proteins ever-changing. They are either catalyzed enzymes or transport carriers, and are essential in life activities.
The second is nucleic acid. The monomer of nucleic acid is nucleotide. Nucleotides are composed of nitrogenous bases, pentacarbose and phosphoric acid. Nucleotides are connected to each other by phosphate diester bonds to form a polymer of nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are divided into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). The pentacarbose of DNA is deoxyribose, and RNA is ribose. Nitrogen-containing bases are also different. There are adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T) in DNA; thymine (T) in RNA is easily uracil (U). Nucleic acids carry genetic information and control the inheritance and variation of life, just like a precise life codebook.
Another is polysaccharides. The monomers of polysaccharides are often monosaccharides. Common monosaccharides such as glucose, fructose, etc. Glucose molecules are connected by glycosidic bonds to form a variety of polysaccharide polymers. For example, starch is a polysaccharide for plant energy storage. It is polymerized from glucose and connected by alpha-glycosidic bonds. The structure is divided into straight chain and branch chain. The carbohydrate principle is a polysaccharide that stores energy in animals. Its structure is similar to that of starch, but its branches are more dense. Cellulose is also a polymer of glucose, which is connected by β-glycosidic bonds and is the main component of plant cell walls, giving plant cells strength and toughness.
Finally, some macromolecules in lipids, such as fats. Although different from the first three categories, its polymers can be regarded as triglycerides formed by esterification of glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups, and fatty acids contain carboxyl groups, which are esterified to form fats. The chain length and saturation of fatty acids vary, which affect the physical and chemical properties of fats. At room temperature, the fats composed of saturated fatty acids are mostly solid, and the unsaturated fatty acids are mostly liquid.
To sum up, the polymers and monomers of these four types of macromolecules in the chemical industry have their own characteristics and interactions, and are widely used in many fields such as life science and materials science, which is the key to chemical research.
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