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Why did Hermann Staudinger call polymers macromolecules?
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polymer
Industrial polymers are synthesized from simple compounds joined together to form long chains. For example, polyvinyl chloride is an industrial homopolymer synthesized from repeating units of vinyl chloride.
Hermann Staudinger introduced the term macromolecule to describe polymers because he proposed that they are giant, long-chain molecules held together by normal covalent bonds, rather than small molecules held together by physical aggregation or secondary forces as previously believed.1
In 1922, Staudinger and J. Fritschi challenged the prevailing scientific consensus of the time by demonstrating that these structures maintain their identity through chemical interaction. By showing that small units form long, chainlike structures, he established the theoretical foundation for polymer chemistry, which eventually influenced fields such as molecular biology and the development of modern plastics.1