A molecule of high relative molecular mass, the structure of which essentially comprises the multiple repetition of units derived, actually or conceptually, from molecules of low relative molecular mass.
Notes: - In many cases, especially for synthetic polymers, a molecule can be regarded as having a high @R05271@ if the addition or removal of one or a few of the units has a negligible effect on the molecular properties. This statement fails in the case of certain macromolecules for which the properties may be critically dependent on fine details of the molecular structure.
- If a part or the whole of the molecule has a high @R05271@ and essentially comprises the multiple repetition of units derived, actually or conceptually, from molecules of low @R05271@, it may be described as either macromolecular or polymeric, or by polymer used adjectivally.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2287. 'Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2289 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122287)