Classification of polymers - Natural polymer
The polymers acquired from nature (plants and animals) are known as natural polymers. These types of polymers are extremely essential for life. They are illustrated as:
(1) Starch: It is polymer of glucose and it is food reserve of plant.
(2) Cellulose: Cellulose is as well a polymer of glucose. It is a major structural material of the plant both starch and cellulose is prepared by plants from glucose produced during photosynthesis.
(3) Proteins: Proteins are polymers of α-amino acids; they have usually 20 to 1000 α amino acid joined together in an extremely organized arrangement. These types are making blocks of animal body and constitute a necessary part of our food.
(4) Nucleic acids: These are polymers of various nucleotides. As DNA and RNA are general nucleotides.
a. It may be noted that polymers like polysaccharides (cellulose, starch), nucleic acids and proteins etc. that control various life procedures in animals and plants are as well called biopolymers.