what is monomer

A monomer is a molecule that can react with other monomer molecules to form a larger polymer chain or three-dimensional network in a process called polymerization. The term monomer originates from the Greek words mono- (one) and meros (part). Monomers are the building blocks of polymers. They can be either natural or synthetic. Some common examples of monomers include: * Monosaccharides, which are the building blocks of carbohydrates * Amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins * Nucleotides, which are the building blocks of DNA and RNA * Monomers can be classified into different types based on their chemical structure. Some common types of monomers include: * Aliphatic monomers, which contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms * Aromatic monomers, which contain a benzene ring * Heterocyclic monomers, which contain atoms other than carbon and hydrogen Monomers are important in many different fields, including: * Chemistry * Biology * Materials science * Engineering * Medicine They are used to create a wide variety of products, including plastics, textiles, adhesives, and drugs. I hope this helps! Let me know if you have other questions.