Let us now consider
a somewhat more complex molecule.
Fig.1 shows a short Poly(ethylene
oxide), or simply PEO, molecule consisting of just six repeat
units, -CH2-O-CH2-. Polymer molecules are usually
much,
much longer. Such molecules are very flexible and will normally
coil to form immense variety of different shapes, one of which is shown
in Fig.2. These are known as different conformations.
Thus, the stretched configuration in Fig.1 is just one of many possible
conformations.
Fig.2. One of the great many other conformations.
