Clay is a plastic material. Does thia imply that it is a polymer
Not necessarily. The word "plastic" in this case means that it does not respond elatically to applied stress. It can be deformed by application of sufficient stress.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasticity_(physics)
Qeruif
No, the fact that clay is a plastic material does not necessarily imply that it is a polymer. Although clay can possess plasticity, meaning it can be molded or shaped, it is not classified as a polymer.
Now, to determine if clay is indeed a polymer or not, we can follow these steps:
1. Understand the definition of a polymer: A polymer is a large molecule made up of repeated subunits called monomers. These monomers are connected together through covalent bonds.
2. Examine the composition of clay: Clay is primarily composed of very fine particles of minerals such as kaolinite, illite, or montmorillonite. These mineral particles are stacked together in layers held together by weak van der Waals forces.
3. Compare the composition to the definition of a polymer: Since clay does not consist of repeated monomers covalently bonded together, it does not meet the criteria to be classified as a polymer.
Therefore, we can conclude that clay, despite its plastic nature, is not a polymer.