Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Polymers

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Polymer Classification: Crystallinity

Unlike ionic or small covalent molecules, polymers do not form crystalline solids due to the diffusion limitations of their long-chain structures. However, polymers contain microscopic crystalline domains separated by amorphous domains.
Crystalline domains are the regions where polymer chains are aligned in an orderly manner and held together in proximity by intermolecular forces. For example, chains in the crystalline domains of polyethylene and nylon are bound together by van der Waals...

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

Copolymers are the products obtained from the polymerization of multiple monomer species. So, in a polymer chain itself, there can be multiple repeating units that come from different monomers. The process of synthesizing a polymer from different monomer species is called copolymerization. When two monomers are involved, the polymer is known as a bipolymer. Polymers with three and four monomers are termed terpolymers and quaterpolymers, respectively. Figure 1 depicts the copolymerization of...

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity

Polymerization generates chiral centers along the entire backbone of a polymer chain. Accordingly, the stereochemistry of the substituent group has a significant effect on polymer properties. Polymers formed from monosubstituted alkene monomers feature chiral carbons at every alternate position in the polymer backbone. Relative to the predominant orientation of substituents at the adjacent chiral carbons, the polymer can exist in three different configurations: isotactic, syndiotactic, and...

The Colloidal State

The Colloidal State

The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called the...

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

Anionic Chain-Growth Polymerization: Overview

The polymerization process that involves carbanion as an intermediate is called anionic polymerization. It is also a type of addition or chain-growth polymerization. Anionic polymerization gets initiated by a strong nucleophile such as an organolithium or a Grignard reagent. The most commonly used initiator for anionic polymerization is butyl lithium. Monomers involved in anionic polymerization must possess a vinyl group bonded to one or two electron-withdrawing groups. For instance,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Reshaping two-dimensional MoS<sub>2</sub> for superior magnesium-ion battery anodes.

Journal of colloid and interface science·2021

Same author

Effect of chemical aging of aqueous organic aerosols on the rate of their steady-state nucleation.

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP·2020

Same author

Kinetic equation of concurrent nucleation and chemical aging of an ensemble of aqueous organic aerosols.

Physical review. E·2020

Same author

OH-Initiated Reactions of <i>para</i>-Coumaryl Alcohol Relevant to the Lignin Pyrolysis. Part III. Kinetics of H-Abstraction by H, OH, and CH<sub>3</sub> Radicals.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2020

Same author

OH-Initiated Reactions of <i>para</i>-Coumaryl Alcohol Relevant to the Lignin Pyrolysis. Part II. Kinetic Analysis.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2020

Same author

Bond Number Revisited: Axisymmetric Macroscopic Pendant Drop.

Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

Local composition in solvent + polymer or biopolymer systems.

Ivan L Shulgin¹, Eli Ruckenstein

¹Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst, NY 14260, USA.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B

|February 20, 2008

Summary

Kirkwood-Buff theory analyzes local composition in solvent-macromolecule systems. A new excess/deficit expression corrects previous errors, revealing solvent excess around macromolecules due to size and interactions.

More Related Videos

Advanced Compositional Analysis of Nanoparticle-polymer Composites Using Direct Fluorescence Imaging

Advanced Compositional Analysis of Nanoparticle-polymer Composites Using Direct Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: July 19, 2016

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)

Published on: May 20, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer

Published on: November 30, 2020

Advanced Compositional Analysis of Nanoparticle-polymer Composites Using Direct Fluorescence Imaging

Advanced Compositional Analysis of Nanoparticle-polymer Composites Using Direct Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: July 19, 2016

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)

Synthesis of Terpolymers at Mild Temperatures Using Dynamic Sulfur Bonds in Poly(S-Divinylbenzene)

Published on: May 20, 2019

Area of Science:

Physical Chemistry
Solution Thermodynamics
Polymer Science

Background:

Analyzing local composition in solvent-macromolecule mixtures is crucial for understanding solution behavior.
Existing methods like the Zimm cluster integral use an incorrect expression for molecular excess/deficit.
Kirkwood-Buff (KB) theory provides a framework for calculating these local properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To apply a newly derived expression for molecular excess/deficit within the Kirkwood-Buff theory framework.
To analyze the local composition in various solvent + macromolecule systems.
To compare the new method with the traditional Zimm cluster integral approach.

Main Methods:

Utilized a novel expression for the excess (or deficit) of species in binary mixtures.
Applied Kirkwood-Buff fluctuation theory to five specific solvent + macromolecule systems.
Calculated local composition around both solvent and macromolecule central molecules.

Main Results:

The new expression was applied to toluene + polystyrene, water + collagen, water + serum albumin, water + hydroxypropyl cellulose, and water + Pluronic P105.
A solvent deficit was observed around central solvent molecules in water + collagen and water + serum albumin.
A consistent solvent excess was found around macromolecules in all investigated systems.

Conclusions:

The new KB-based method accurately predicts local composition, overcoming limitations of the Zimm cluster integral.
Solvent excess around macromolecules is influenced by size in dilute solvent conditions and intermolecular interactions in dilute macromolecule conditions.
Findings offer insights into protein hydration and solvent-macromolecule interactions.