Editing Organic chemistry (section)

=== Polymers ===
{{Main|Polymer}}
[[Image: Girl with swimming board.jpg|upright|thumb|This swimming board is made of [[polystyrene]]; it is an example of a polymer.]]

One important property of carbon is that it readily forms chains, or networks, that are linked by carbon-carbon (carbon-to-carbon) bonds. The linking process is called [[polymerization]], while the chains, or networks, are called [[polymer]]s. The source compound is called a [[monomer]].

Two main groups of polymers exist: [[synthetic polymers]] and [[biopolymer]]s. Synthetic polymers are artificially manufactured, and are commonly referred to as [[plastic|industrial polymers]].<ref>"industrial polymers, chemistry of." [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]. 2006</ref> Biopolymers occur within a respectfully natural environment, or without human intervention.