molecules

[smell]

What does a glue molecule look like?

[j2buttonsw]

I don't think a glue molecule exists. Did you want to know the structure of chemicals that make up glue, such as polyvinyl acetate (PVA)?

[smell]

Yes please! It's for a science experiment and I need to speak scientifically about glues and their properties... Thank-you

[j2buttonsw]

PVA is a polymer made up of many vinyl acetate [C(4)H(6)O(2)] molecules joined together. The glue is actually an aqueous solution of vinyl acetate which is caused to polymerise by other glue constituents (an anionic surfactant: a long chained alkyl sulphonate, a protective colloid: polyvinyl alcohol and a water souluble radical initiator: potassium persulphate). As the polymer develops so the the glue binds together. Other types of adhesives (epoxides and cyanoacrylates) also form polymers. Because the monomers are small molecules they can penetrate small pores in the substrate before they link up into the polymer network.It should be noted that there are no chemical bonds between the glue and the substrate.

[smell]

Thanks, that all sounds good, I'll see how I go!

[Headtime]

j2buttonsw; please tell me you copied and pasted that response from a website? If not..then surely you have a brain the size of a planet...or a serious glue-sniffing habit