[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:06.83,0:00:08.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do silk,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.03,0:00:08.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,DNA,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.71,0:00:09.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wood,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.47,0:00:10.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,balloons,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.30,0:00:12.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and Silly Putty all have in common?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.93,0:00:14.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're polymers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.72,0:00:17.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Polymers are such a big part of our lives
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.15,0:00:18.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it's virtually impossible
Dialogue: 0,0:00:18.61,0:00:20.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to imagine a world without them,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.83,0:00:22.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what the heck are they?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.42,0:00:24.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Polymers are large molecules
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.23,0:00:26.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,made of small units called monomers
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.89,0:00:29.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,linked together like the railroad cars from a train.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.77,0:00:31.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Poly means many,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.30,0:00:32.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and mono means one,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.80,0:00:35.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and mers or mero means parts.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:35.68,0:00:37.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many polymers are made by repeating
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.85,0:00:40.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the same small monomer over and over again
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.69,0:00:42.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while others are made from two monomers
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.48,0:00:44.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,linked in a pattern.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.40,0:00:46.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All living things are made of polymers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.93,0:00:49.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of the organic molecules in organisms
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.46,0:00:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are small and simple,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.79,0:00:53.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,having only one of a few functional groups.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.47,0:00:57.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Others, especially those that play structural roles
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.37,0:00:59.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or store genetic information,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.07,0:01:00.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are macromolecules.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:00.84,0:01:04.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In many cases, these macromolecules are polymers.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.25,0:01:06.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, complex carbohydrates
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.64,0:01:08.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are polymers of simple sugars,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.79,0:01:11.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,proteins are polymers of amino acids,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.09,0:01:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and nucleic acids, DNA and RNA,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.76,0:01:15.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which contain our genetic information,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.72,0:01:18.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are polymers of nucleotides.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.25,0:01:19.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trees and plants are made
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.55,0:01:21.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the polymer cellulose.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.52,0:01:24.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the tough stuff you find in bark and stems.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.48,0:01:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Feathers,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.18,0:01:25.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fur,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.73,0:01:26.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hair,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.26,0:01:27.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and fingernails
Dialogue: 0,0:01:27.14,0:01:29.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are made up of the protein keratin,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.18,0:01:30.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,also a polymer.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.77,0:01:32.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It doesn't stop there.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.42,0:01:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Did you know that the exoskeletons
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.92,0:01:36.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the largest phylum in the animal kingdom,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.43,0:01:37.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the arthropods,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.45,0:01:39.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are made of the polymer chitin?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.93,0:01:41.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Polymers also form the basis
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.66,0:01:44.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for synthetic fibers, rubbers, and plastics.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.69,0:01:48.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All synthetic polymers are derived from petroleum oil
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.08,0:01:51.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and manufactured through chemical reactions.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.28,0:01:53.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The two most common types of reactions
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.44,0:01:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,used to make polymers
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.71,0:01:55.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are addition reactions
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.94,0:01:58.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and condensation reactions.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.14,0:01:59.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In addition reactions,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.46,0:02:02.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,monomers simply add together to form the polymer.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.55,0:02:04.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The process starts with a free radical,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.61,0:02:07.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a species with an unpaired electron.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.66,0:02:08.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The free radical attacks
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.96,0:02:11.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and breaks the bonds to form new bonds.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.52,0:02:13.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This process repeats over and over
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.61,0:02:15.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to create a long-chained polymer.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.60,0:02:17.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In condensation reactions,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.27,0:02:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a small molecule, such as water,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.10,0:02:22.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is produced with each chain-extending reaction.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:22.41,0:02:23.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first synthetic polymers
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.93,0:02:25.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,were created by accident
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.39,0:02:28.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as by-products of various chemical reactions.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:28.11,0:02:29.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thinking they were useless,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.35,0:02:31.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,chemists mostly discarded them.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.63,0:02:33.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finally, one named Leo Baekeland
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.91,0:02:35.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,decided maybe his useless by-product
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.79,0:02:38.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wasn't so useless after all.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.09,0:02:39.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,His work resulted in a plastic
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.72,0:02:42.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that could be permanently squished into a shape
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.18,0:02:44.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using pressure and high temperatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.52,0:02:46.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Since the name of this plastic,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.17,0:02:50.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.07,0:02:51.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,wasn't very catchy,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.35,0:02:53.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,advertisers called it Bakelite.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.50,0:02:56.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Bakelite was made into telephones,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.47,0:02:57.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,children's toys,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.36,0:02:59.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and insulators for electrical devices.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.99,0:03:02.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,With its development in 1907,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.10,0:03:04.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the plastics industry exploded.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.61,0:03:06.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One other familiar polymer, Silly Putty,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.62,0:03:08.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was also invented by accident.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.77,0:03:09.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,During World War II,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.86,0:03:11.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the United States was in desperate need
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.60,0:03:14.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of synthetic rubber to support the military.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.19,0:03:16.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A team of chemists at General Electric
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.11,0:03:17.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,attempted to create one
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.63,0:03:20.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but ended up with a gooey, soft putty.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.18,0:03:22.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It wasn't a good rubber substitute,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.19,0:03:24.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it did have one strange quality:
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.46,0:03:27.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it appeared to be extremely bouncy.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.11,0:03:28.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Silly Putty was born!
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.72,0:03:30.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Synthetic polymers have changed the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.93,0:03:32.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Think about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.02,0:03:33.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Could you imagine getting through a single day
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.86,0:03:35.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without using plastic?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.55,0:03:37.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But polymers aren't all good.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.52,0:03:40.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Styrofoam, for example, is made mainly of styrene,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.86,0:03:43.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which has been identified as a possible carcinogen
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.02,0:03:45.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.60,0:03:47.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As Styrofoam products are being made,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.74,0:03:51.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or as they slowly deteriorate in landfills or the ocean,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.02,0:03:52.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they can release toxic styrene
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.69,0:03:54.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into the environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.36,0:03:56.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In addition, plastics that are created
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.02,0:03:58.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by addition polymerization reactions,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.29,0:03:59.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Styrofoam,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.35,0:04:00.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plastic bags,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.21,0:04:01.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and PVC,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.21,0:04:03.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are built to be durable and food-safe,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.42,0:04:04.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but that means that they don't break down
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.96,0:04:06.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.37,0:04:08.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Millions of tons of plastics
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.12,0:04:10.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are dumped into landfills every year.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.22,0:04:12.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This plastic doesn't biodegrade,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.46,0:04:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it just breaks down
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.52,0:04:15.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,into smaller and smaller pieces,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.56,0:04:16.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,affecting marine life
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.73,0:04:19.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and eventually making their way back to humans.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.73,0:04:21.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Polymers can be soft or hard,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.72,0:04:22.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,squishy or solid,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.94,0:04:25.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,fragile or strong.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:25.04,0:04:27.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The huge variation between
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.33,0:04:28.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,means they can form
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.24,0:04:30.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an incredibly diverse array of substances,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.60,0:04:31.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from DNA
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.43,0:04:33.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to nylon stockings.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.41,0:04:35.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Polymers are so useful
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.02,0:04:37.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we've grown to depend on them every day.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.49,0:04:38.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But some are littering
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.68,0:04:41.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,our oceans, cities, and waterways
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.06,0:04:42.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with effects on our health
Dialogue: 0,0:04:42.27,0:04:44.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we're only beginning to understand.