What structure is a polymer primarily composed of?

A polymer is primarily composed of repeating structural units, which are typically small, identical or similar molecules called monomers. These monomers chemically bond together in long chains to form the larger, complex structure of the polymer. This characteristic of polymers is what gives them unique physical and chemical properties, depending on the type of monomers used and how they are arranged.

For instance, in the case of synthetic polymers like plastics, the properties can vary significantly based on the sequence and nature of the repeating units. This is fundamental in fields like materials science and biochemistry, where understanding the structure and behavior of polymers is key to developing new materials and applications.