Terylene
Terylene is a type of polyester, which means it is made through a specific kind of chemical process called a condensation reaction. Imagine connecting two pieces to form a single unit. Here, those pieces are a dicarboxylic acid and a diol. This process involves taking away a small molecule, often water, during the formation of the bond. This bond that forms is called an ester linkage.
It's similar to how beads connect on a string, but in chemistry, beads are molecules, and the string is the linkage that holds them together. When the carboxyl group of the acid reacts with the hydroxyl group of the alcohol, they form this lovely ester bond, making Terylene useful in making fabrics and textiles due to its strength and flexibility.
Nylon
Nylon is a famous synthetic polymer known for its durability and versatility. You can think of nylon like a chain made through a chemical reaction called polyamidation. Here's how it works: it is formed by a reaction between a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine, much like meeting two friends who join hands to make a strong team.
The bond that connects them is known as an amide linkage, also called a peptide bond, characterized by the joining of a carboxyl group from the acid and an amine group from the diamine. This amide bond is why nylon is so tough and flexible, ideal for making items like ropes and clothing that need to withstand wear and tear.
Cellulose
Cellulose is a natural polymer, mainly found in the cell walls of plants, making it vital for their structure. Picture chains of sugars holding hands, and you'll get cellulose, which consists of sugar units called glucose linked together.
The link between these glucose units is called a glycosidic linkage. It is created when one hydroxyl group from one glucose unit bonds with another hydroxyl group from the next glucose unit. This structure makes cellulose an essential component in nature, giving plants their rigidity and strength. This is why cellulose is key in materials like paper and textiles.
Protein
Proteins are fundamental to all living organisms, performing countless functions from building tissues to catalyzing reactions. Proteins are composed of smaller units called amino acids, which are linked by peptide bonds, a specific type of amide linkage.
These bonds form when the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another, releasing a molecule of water in the process—a classic example of a dehydration reaction. This sequence of linked amino acids folds into a specific structure, defining a protein's unique function, whether in muscle fibers or enzymes.
RNA
RNA, or ribonucleic acid, is a pivotal molecule involved in genetic coding, decoding, regulation, and expression within biological systems. It is made from units called nucleotides, each comprising a ribose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (A, U, C, or G).
These nucleotides are interconnected by phosphodiester linkages, which occur between the 5' phosphate of one nucleotide and the 3' hydroxyl of another, creating a sugar-phosphate backbone. This backbone is crucial for the stability and function of RNA, allowing it to perform various roles, from synthesizing proteins to transmitting genetic information.
