Homopolymer

Definition

A homopolymer is a polymer that is made up of only one type of monomer unit repeated throughout its structure. It contrasts with copolymers, which are composed of two or more different monomer units.

Related terms

Polymerization:

The chemical process that combines monomer molecules into a polymer chain.

Monomer:

A small molecule that can be chemically bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

Copolymer:

A polymer derived from more than one species of monomer, creating a complex molecular chain with varying properties