Polymer

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-021531",
  "term": "Polymer",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. A chemical formed by the union of many monomers (a molecule of low molecular weight). Polymers are used with other chemical coagulants to aid in binding small suspended particles to larger chemical flocs for their removal from water. All polyelectrolytes are polymers, but not all polymers are polyelectrolytes.\n\n2. A natural or synthetic chemical structure where two or more like molecules are joined to form a more complex molecular structure (e.g. polyethylene in plastic).\n\n3. Compounds formed by the joining of smaller, usually repeating, units linked by covalent bonds. These compounds often form large macromolecules.\n\n4. Any of the natural or synthetic compounds of usually high molecular weight that consist of many repeated links, each link being a relatively light and simple molecule.\n\n5. Chemical substance consisting of molecules characterized by the sequence of one or more types of monomer units and comprising a simple weight majority of molecules containing at least 3 monomer units which are covalently bound to at least one other monomer unit or other reactant and which consists of less than a simple weight majority of molecules of the same molecular weight. Such molecules must be distributed over a range of molecular weights wherein differences in the molecular weight are primarily attributable to differences in the number of monomer units. In the context of this definition, sequence means that the monomer units under consideration are covalently bound to one another and form a continuous string within the molecule, uninterrupted by units other than monomer units.\n\n6. Chemical substance that consists of at least a simple weight majority of polymer molecules but consists of less than a simple weight majority of molecules with the same molecular weight. Collectively, such polymer molecules must be distributed over a range of molecular weights wherein differences in molecular weight are primarily attributable to differences in the number of internal subunits.\n\n7. Chemical substance consisting of molecules characterized by the sequence of one or more types of monomer units and comprising a simple weight majority of molecules containing at least 3 monomer units which are covalently bound to at least one other monomer unit or other reactant and which consists of less than a simple weight majority of molecules of the same molecular weight. Such molecules must be distributed over a range of molecular weights wherein differences in the molecular weight are primarily attributable to differences in the number of monomer units.\n\n8. Chemical substance consisting of molecules characterized by the sequence of one or more types of monomer units and comprising a simple weight majority of molecules containing at least three monomer units which are covalently bound to at least one other monomer unit or other reactant and which consists of less than a simple weight majority of molecules of the same molecular weight.",
  "subject": "General environmental",
  "references": [
    "Drinking Water Technical & Legal Terms",
    "Terms of Environment",
    "NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)",
    "40 CFR 60.601 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 723.250 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 704.25 (CFR 2013)",
    "EPA Polymer Exemption Guidance Manual EPA 744-B-97-001 at www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/polyguid.pdf",
    "EPA's Safer Choice Standard (February 2015) https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2013-12/documents/standard-for-safer-products.pdf"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/polymer/"
}