Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight01:01

Polymers: Defining Molecular Weight

2.8K
Unlike small molecules with definite molecular weights, polymers are a mixture of individual polymer chains of varying lengths, each with a unique molecular weight.  So, the molecular weight of a polymer is expressed as an average value based on the average size of the polymer chains. The two most common forms of averages used for polymers are the number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight.
The number average molecular weight (Mn) is the summation of the number...
2.8K
Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution01:10

Polymers: Molecular Weight Distribution

3.3K
For any given polymer, the weight average molecular weight (Mw) is higher than, if not equal to, the number average molecular weight (Mn). The only situation in which the weight average molecular weight and the number average molecular weight are equal is when a polymer consists only of chains with equal molecular weight. However, this never happens in a synthetic polymer, since it is difficult to control the polymerization process up to a molecular level with accuracy to a hundred percent.
3.3K
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers01:08

Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers

2.2K
Step growth polymerization involves bi or multifunctional monomers. Bifunctional monomers react to form linear step growth polymers, whereas multifunctional monomers react to form non-linear or branched polymers.
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
2.2K
Polymers02:34

Polymers

35.6K
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...
35.6K
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers01:00

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Homopolymers

3.0K
Polymers that are made up of identical monomer units are called homopolymers. Only one repeating unit is involved in the construction of the homopolymer structure. For example, as depicted in Figure 1, polypropylene is a homopolymer constituted of propylene monomers. Here, the only repeating unit in the polymer chain is propylene.
3.0K
Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers01:24

Characteristics and Nomenclature of Copolymers

2.5K
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...
2.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Iron(III)-catalyzed activation of C(sp<sup>2</sup>)-H and C(sp<sup>3</sup>)-H bonds for H/D exchange of arenes.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Stereoselective chemical N-glycoconjugation of amines via CO<sub>2</sub> incorporation.

Nature communications·2024
Same author

Tri(<i>N</i>-carbazolyl)phosphine Gold(I) Complexes: Structural and Catalytic Activity Studies.

Inorganic chemistry·2022
Same author

GeCl<sub>2</sub>·Dioxane-AgBF<sub>4</sub> Catalyzed Activation of Glycosyl Fluorides for Glycosylation.

Organic letters·2022
Same journal

RETRACTED: Kim et al. The Angiogenesis Inhibitor ALS-L1023 from Lemon-Balm Leaves Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Through Regulating the Visceral Adipose-Tissue Function. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2017, <i>18</i>, 846.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same journal

Correction: Mahmud et al. Thymoquinone Attenuates NF-κβ Signalling Activation in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells Under AMD-Mimicking Conditions. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2025, <i>26</i>, 11473.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same journal

Correction: Borovikov et al. The Twisting and Untwisting of Actin and Tropomyosin Filaments Are Involved in the Molecular Mechanisms of Muscle Contraction, and Their Disruption Can Result in Muscle Disorders. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci</i>. 2025, <i>26</i>, 6705.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same journal

Correction: Molagoda et al. Flavonoid Glycosides from <i>Ziziphus jujuba</i> var. <i>inermis</i> (Bunge) Rehder Seeds Inhibit α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone-Mediated Melanogenesis. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2021, <i>22</i>, 7701.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same journal

Correction: Guo et al. Integrated Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis Reveals the Molecular Regulatory Mechanism of Flavonoid Biosynthesis in Maize Roots Under Lead Stress. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2024, <i>25</i>, 6050.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
Same journal

Correction: Chang et al. Improvement of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Hepatic Failure by Transplantation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Without Reprogramming Factor c-Myc. <i>Int. J. Mol. Sci.</i> 2012, <i>13</i>, 3598-3617.

International journal of molecular sciences·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

7.9K

Single-Molecule Mixture: A Concept in Polymer Science.

Yu Tang1

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Synthesis, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 27, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores the theoretical existence of single-molecule mixtures, a state where substances contain different molecules. Mathematical analysis suggests these mixtures are plausible in real polymer systems.

Keywords:
polymersingle-molecule mixture

More Related Videos

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
10:56

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

12.1K
Polymer Microarrays for High Throughput Discovery of Biomaterials
13:37

Polymer Microarrays for High Throughput Discovery of Biomaterials

Published on: January 25, 2012

14.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2025

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
06:55

Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level

Published on: September 26, 2016

7.9K
Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures
10:56

Confocal Imaging of Confined Quiescent and Flowing Colloid-polymer Mixtures

Published on: May 20, 2014

12.1K
Polymer Microarrays for High Throughput Discovery of Biomaterials
13:37

Polymer Microarrays for High Throughput Discovery of Biomaterials

Published on: January 25, 2012

14.5K

Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Theoretical Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • The concept of pure substances and single-molecule mixtures represents two extremes in chemical composition.
  • Understanding mixture states is crucial for characterizing complex chemical systems.
  • The 'chemical space' concept provides a framework for exploring molecular possibilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To theoretically investigate the existence and properties of the single-molecule mixture state.
  • To combine computational modeling with mathematical analysis to study this state.
  • To determine if single-molecule mixtures are theoretically viable in realistic polymer systems.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a theoretical model for the single-molecule mixture state.
  • Application of mathematical analysis to the constructed model.
  • Exploration of the implications of the 'chemical space' concept.

Main Results:

  • The study provides theoretical evidence supporting the existence of the single-molecule mixture state.
  • Mathematical analysis yielded interesting and significant results regarding mixture behavior.
  • The findings suggest that this state is not merely hypothetical.

Conclusions:

  • The single-molecule mixture state is theoretically plausible.
  • These findings have implications for understanding both synthetic and natural polymer systems.
  • Further research can explore experimental validation of this theoretical state.