Macromolecular substances

Macromolecular substances consist chiefly of macromolecules: very large molecules built from many atoms, often through repeating structural units. They include natural materials such as proteins and cellulose, as well as synthetic polymers.

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Macromolecule: A very large molecule composed of many atoms, often assembled from repeating smaller units. The defining molecular structures that make up these substances.
Polymerization: A chemical process that joins monomers into polymers. It creates many macromolecules by connecting smaller molecular units.
Biopolymer: A polymer produced by living organisms or derived from biological sources. Natural macromolecular substances include proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.
Oligomer: A molecule made from a small number of repeating units, intermediate between a monomer and a polymer. Oligomers have shorter chains and properties that may differ from bulk macromolecular substances.
Monomer: A small molecule that can bond with other molecules to form a polymer. Many macromolecules are built by linking these smaller units.
Condensation polymerization: A polymer-forming reaction in which monomers join while releasing small molecules such as water. This route builds materials such as polyesters and many biological polymers.
Synthetic polymer: A polymer manufactured through chemical synthesis rather than produced directly by an organism. These substances underpin plastics, fibers, coatings, and many elastomers.
Small molecule: A molecule of relatively low molecular mass with a limited number of atoms. Its structure and behavior often contrast with those of very large molecular assemblies.
Polymer: A substance composed of molecules whose structures contain repeated units, usually connected in chains. Many macromolecular substances are polymers, though not every macromolecule is a repeating chain.
Addition polymerization: A chain-growth process that joins unsaturated monomers without eliminating small molecules. It produces common synthetic macromolecular materials, including polyethylene.