Chapter 1: Study Guide and Self-Assessment.
This is just a background chapter allowing you to get your “feet wet” by introducing some basic definitions (which hopefully you already know) and by placing the subject in some historical context. Although natural polymers such as cellulose and keratin have been used by humankind throughout recorded history in the form of wood, cotton, wool, etc., synthetic polymers have only been with us for just over 100 years. Check out the plot showing the growth of plastics production, below. It may seem irrelevant to some students, but if how things developed interests you, read this chapter. As in most human endeavors things did not progress in an A to B to C progression, but involved luck, genius, intense rivalries and the urge to make money!
Because this is a “background” chapter, there is no self-assessment quiz.
