Key Terms in Environmental Science and Chemistry

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Biodegradable

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Capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

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Non-Biodegradable

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Not capable of being decomposed by natural processes.

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Monomer

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A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

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Polymer

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A substance composed of large molecules formed by the bonding of many smaller units (monomers).

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Polymerization

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The process of reacting monomer molecules together to form polymer chains.

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Structure

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The arrangement of and relations between the parts or elements of something complex.

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Sustainability

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The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level, especially without depleting natural resources.

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Covalent Bond

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a chemical bond formed by the sharing of one or more pairs of electrons between two atoms.