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Natural Polymers
By: Chelsea Goerzen, Carter
Chiasson & Caitlyn Hayes
What is a Natural Polymer?
 The natural polymer group includes
naturally occurring polymers and chemical
modifications of these polymers.
 This group includes:
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Cellulose (main structural component of plants)
Starch
Lignin
Chitin
RNA & DNA
And various other polysaccharides (sugars)
Why Are Natural Polymers
Important?
 Nature uses natural polymers to
make life possible, as all living things
are made from these polymers.
 In many ways, these natural
polymers are more important than
other polymers.
Everyday Uses
 Natural polymers are not so much used,
but rather are found in nature.
 The group includes proteins, RNA & DNA,
polysaccharides, amino acids, etc.
 But, they are in fact used in a different
sense; Natural polymers are being used all
the time without knowing it, as all living
organisms rely on them to survive.
General Structure
O
H
N
H
C
C
OH
R
The R group represents an
acidic or basic attachment.
General Structure
COO
H2N
C
R
H
RNA & DNA
 RNA and DNA contain sugar units, making
them polysaccharides, but they have well
ordered groups attached to the sugars
giving them unique capabilities.
 Messenger RNA are an example of natural
polymers.
 These are what make possible proteins,
peptides, enzymes.
 Enzymes consists of the chemistry inside living
organisms
 Peptides consists of some of the more
interesting structural components of skin, hair,
etc.
Amino Acids
 Amino acids are structurally
bifunctional.
 Today, there are 20 known/identified
amino acids.
 They are formed when a carboxylic
group (COOH) and an amine group
(NH2) react through the loss of water.
This creates an amide.
Proteins
 Proteins are the basic
strutural material of plants
and animals.
 There are over 10 billion
different proteins, all
constructed from the 20
known amino acids.
 The repetoire of an amide
bond forms a protein.
 The number of amino acids in
a protein can range from two
to several thousands.
Polypeptides
 Polypeptides are made of chains of
amino acids. A protein is made of
polypeptide molecules.
 Polypeptides consist of silk, keratin
and hair.
Natural Rubber
 Natural rubber is another example of
a natural polymer.
 It is made from only Carbon and
Hydrogen.
Two common amino acids are glycine (Gly, G) and Alanine
(Ala, A)
Each of the 20 known amino acids has a three leter abreviation, as
well as a single letter to identify it.
Properties
 The wide range of properties and
applications vary depending on which
natural polymer you’re looking at.
 Natural polymers tend to be readily
biodegradable.
 Their rate of degredation is generally
inversely proportional to the extent of
chemical modification.
 They can be extracted from nature.
Naming
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* Note: Similar to naming alkanes
When you name an amino acid, the carbon in the carboxylic
acid group is numbered as 1. Identify your longest parentchain of carbons with the carboxylic acid group.
Add “amino” before your prefix, and “oic acid” after your
prefix.
Indicate the placement of the NH2 group by adding the
number in front of your “amino”.
If there is an attachment, such as methyl (CH3), then in the
name you identify it AFTER the “amino”.
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Ex: 2-amino-4-methylheptanoic acid
Example
 2-aminopropanoic acid
More Examples
O
CH3
CH
C
OH
NH2
2-aminopropanoic acid
O
H
CH
NH2
C
OH
2-aminoethanoic acid
Naming
 Try it yourself!
O
CH3
CH2
CH
NH2
CH
OH
Naming
 Answer!
O
CH3
CH2
CH
CH
OH
NH2
2-butanoic acid
Naming
 Try it yourself!
Naming
 Answer!
2 – amino – 3 – methylpentanoic acid