In an addition copolymerisation reaction, a mixture of two or more different monomers react to form a polymer. The resulting polymer is called a copolymer.

In an amorphous substance, the atoms are packed randomly.

A biological macromolecule is a molecule that is so big that we can see it without magnifying it.

In a coordinate covalent bond, one atom contributes both electrons (or a loan pair of electrons) to form a shared pair of electrons with another atom having a vacant orbital.

Curing is achieved by heating the polymer, typically to temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius. Cross-links form during the curing process.

Termination by disproportionation occurs when two polymer chains stop growing by the simultaneous transfer of a hydrogen bond between the two growing chains and the formation of a double bond.

A disaccharide is made up of two linked monosaccharides. Sucrose is a disaccharide.

London forces are forces of attraction between non-polar molecules or the atoms of a monatomic gas. London forces are also called dispersion forces.

Monomers are the chemically bonded parts of polymers.

Organic chemistry is the chemistry of carbon compounds, excluding the oxides of carbons and the carbonates.

Plasticisers are small organic molecules that reduce the friction between macromolecules, allowing them to slide over each other and so increase the flexibility of the polymer.

During propagation, the unpaired electron of a radical that is part of a polymer forms a covalent bond with one of the double-bonded carbon atoms in another monomer.

A radical is a very reactive atom or group of atoms with an unpaired valence electron.

Termination occurs in a polymerisation reaction by way of any reaction that uses up the radicals.

A zwitterion is an ion that has both a positive and a negative charge on the same group of atoms.

The secondary structure of proteins refers to the way in which the peptide backbone of protein is arranged either in a spiral structure or a helical structure.

The crystal structure is the arrangement of atoms or ions in a crystalline material.