Category Chemistry

Can we wear polymers?

          We all might have worn clothes made of cotton, wool and silk at one point or the other. Most of us must have used belts, shoes and wallets made of leather. By now, we know that all these are polymers.

          Wool is made of fur obtained from different animals like sheep, llamas, angora rabbits and even foxes. Wool is used to make a range of clothing like socks, gloves and sweaters. It is one of the first materials used by Man to make clothing. Fur is made of a protein called keratin. Fur clothing is highly fashionable now.

          Leather, as discussed earlier, is obtained from the skin of animals. A variety of animals provide leather: crocodiles, kangaroos, dogs and cows to name a few. Did you know that leather pouches were once used to store water? It is still used to make bags and other containers. Cotton is made of cellulose and can be stretched to neat pieces of fabric.

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Does human skin share any similarity with that of animals?

          Human skin appears very different from that of animals. Think of an elephant’s skin and then take a look at yours. They are as different as chalk and cheese, isn’t it? Even all animals do not have the same texture of skin. But, they have one thing in common; both human and animal skin is made of a protein called collagen.

          Collagen has a fibre-like structure. It forms an elastic layer below the skin which makes it smooth and supple. Collagen present in animal skin can be made into leather by a process called tanning during which, the skin will be cross linked. This modification makes it strong and durable.

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Why was the tusk of a walrus used to make jewellery?

          The walrus is a sea animal with a not-so-pleasant appearance. But they were hunted for their tusks, meat and skin. They have long ivory tusks just like elephants.

          The tusk of a walrus is soft enough to be carved to any shape, but sturdy enough to stay for a really long time. Because of this, walrus tusks were used to make jewellery in the past. Wonder what the tusk is made of? The ivory tusk of a walrus is made of a protein, a polymer which makes our hair and fingernails. The protein provides longevity and softness lo the tusk. Now, we have a lot of alternatives for jewellery and this poor creature is largely spared.

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Which polymer is present in the outer shell of crabs?

          The hard outer shells of crabs and lobsters are made of a polymer called chitin. Chitin is a polysaccharide which is hard and insoluble, but somehow flexible. It is found in the shells of shrimps and other crustaceans as well.

          Have you observed the shells of crabs? Does it get wet? Don’t be surprised to learn that chitin is waterproof. It is non-toxic, biodegradable and structurally similar to cellulose. However, it is a major source of surface pollution in coastal areas.

           Chitin is a promising biomaterial and a considerable amount of research about chitin is being conducted worldwide now. Researchers have tried hard to synthesize synthetic polymers with the same properties as chitin. Thanks to their efforts, it is commercially produced in some parts of the world today.

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Do whales have polymers in them?

          The aquatic world is a vast repository of natural polymers. Aquatic mammals have several proteins in them. Whales are no exception. The teeth of a whale are rich in baleen, a natural polymer.

          Baleen is made up of keratin, a type of protein. It is strong, durable and flexible. Keratin is generally of two types – hard and soft. Hard keratin is usually found in human fingernails, hair and claws of birds. Soft keratin is found in whale bone. Another prominent polymer obtained from a whale is leather. Leather is processed from its skin and has a variety of applications.

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Is there anything common between cellulose and starch?

           Starch and cellulose are very different from each other, but they share a striking similarity. Both are made of glucose monomers and hence called polysaccharides. Though made of glucose, both are bonded in different ways which give them different properties.

         Starch dissolves in water while cellulose doesn’t. Cotton is made up of cellulose; it has a crystalline structure and stretches out. Just imagine what would happen to our cotton clothes if cellulose could be dissolved in water? It would disappear in the very first wash! Cellulose and its derivatives are widely used to make clothing and other things like paper, while starch is used for food.

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