What are polymers?

Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating units called monomers. They can be synthetic or natural and can be found in a variety of materials including plastics, fibers, rubber, gels, and even living cells. Examples of common polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, and DNA. Polymers can have many different properties depending on the specific monomers used and the way in which they are combined.