Polyethylene glycol] (PEG) and polyvinyl chloride) (PVC) are examples of polymers, large o...

Polyethylene glycol] (PEG) and polyvinyl chloride) (PVC) are examples of polymers, large organic molecules composed of repeating smaller units covalently bonded together. Polymers have very different properties depending (in part) on their functional groups. Discuss the water solubility of each polymer and suggest why PEG is used in shampoos while PVC is used to make garden hoses and pipes. Synthetic polymers are discussed in detail in Chapters 15 and 30.