Title: star macromolecule
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - star macromolecule
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.S05935
Status: current

Definition
A macromolecule containing a single branch point from which linear chains (arms) emanate.

Notes
1) A star macromolecule with \(n\) linear chains (arms) attached to the branch point is termed an \(n\)-star macromolecule, e.g. five-star macromolecule.
2) If the arms of a star macromolecule are identical with respect to constitution and degree of polymerization, the macromolecule is termed a regular star macromolecule.
3) If different arms of a star macromolecule are composed of different monomeric units, the macromolecule is termed a variegated star macromolecule.

Related Terms
- branch point: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/B00728
- constitution: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/C01282
- degree of polymerization: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/D01569
- linear chains: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/L03546
- macromolecule: https://goldbook.iupac.org//terms/view/M03667

Source
- PAC, 1996, 68, 2287. 'Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 2296 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668122287)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/S05935/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/S05935/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/S05935/xml

Citation: Citation: 'star macromolecule' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.S05935
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Accessed: 2026-05-28T09:16:23+00:00